Narrative:

I was operating an SD3 aircraft. My route of flight was rno via V-392 to smf at 12000 ft MSL. After receiving several radar vectors from sierra approach control, including altitude dscnts and heading changes. I was eventually vectored to a left downwind at 3000 ft MSL for a visual approach to runway 34L at smf. Approach control alerted me to the position of a DC10 ahead and lower that was also cleared for a visual to runway 34L. Upon being cleared for a visual approach to runway 34L and a change to tower frequency (125.70), I notified tower that I was abeam their position and was going to stay slightly higher and 5 mi behind the DC10 for turbulence separation. Tower called my 5 mi separation and clearance to land, and I began a left base turn to final. Using the ILS as a backup landing aid, I established myself on final approach and slightly above (1/2 DOT) GS. Approximately 3 mi from runway threshold, I noticed a series of bright lights at my quartering left front and lower position. Within seconds, I realized that this was another aircraft that had cut in front of me and that the aircraft was large. At about the same time, tower called 'MD80, you just cut in front of a shorts on final.' 'SD3, take whatever action is necessary.' in a brief moment, both the MD80 and I broke into a left climbing turn. Upon seeing his turn, I re-entered final and completed a normal landing. After securing my aircraft, I called tower by telephone and asked -- in their opinion -- what had happened? The gentleman on the other end explained that 'an MD80' had been cleared for a visual approach to runway 34L, behind the 'shorts' on final. He further explained that the MD80 pilot thought he heard 'air carrier Z, you're cleared for a visual approach to runway 34L behind the aircraft on short final.' a near miss that could have been catastrophic.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW INCORRECTLY HEAR TFC CALL FROM TWR, SMF.

Narrative: I WAS OPERATING AN SD3 ACFT. MY RTE OF FLT WAS RNO VIA V-392 TO SMF AT 12000 FT MSL. AFTER RECEIVING SEVERAL RADAR VECTORS FROM SIERRA APCH CTL, INCLUDING ALT DSCNTS AND HDG CHANGES. I WAS EVENTUALLY VECTORED TO A L DOWNWIND AT 3000 FT MSL FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 34L AT SMF. APCH CTL ALERTED ME TO THE POS OF A DC10 AHEAD AND LOWER THAT WAS ALSO CLRED FOR A VISUAL TO RWY 34L. UPON BEING CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 34L AND A CHANGE TO TWR FREQ (125.70), I NOTIFIED TWR THAT I WAS ABEAM THEIR POS AND WAS GOING TO STAY SLIGHTLY HIGHER AND 5 MI BEHIND THE DC10 FOR TURB SEPARATION. TWR CALLED MY 5 MI SEPARATION AND CLRNC TO LAND, AND I BEGAN A L BASE TURN TO FINAL. USING THE ILS AS A BACKUP LNDG AID, I ESTABLISHED MYSELF ON FINAL APCH AND SLIGHTLY ABOVE (1/2 DOT) GS. APPROX 3 MI FROM RWY THRESHOLD, I NOTICED A SERIES OF BRIGHT LIGHTS AT MY QUARTERING L FRONT AND LOWER POS. WITHIN SECONDS, I REALIZED THAT THIS WAS ANOTHER ACFT THAT HAD CUT IN FRONT OF ME AND THAT THE ACFT WAS LARGE. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, TWR CALLED 'MD80, YOU JUST CUT IN FRONT OF A SHORTS ON FINAL.' 'SD3, TAKE WHATEVER ACTION IS NECESSARY.' IN A BRIEF MOMENT, BOTH THE MD80 AND I BROKE INTO A L CLBING TURN. UPON SEEING HIS TURN, I RE-ENTERED FINAL AND COMPLETED A NORMAL LNDG. AFTER SECURING MY ACFT, I CALLED TWR BY TELEPHONE AND ASKED -- IN THEIR OPINION -- WHAT HAD HAPPENED? THE GENTLEMAN ON THE OTHER END EXPLAINED THAT 'AN MD80' HAD BEEN CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 34L, BEHIND THE 'SHORTS' ON FINAL. HE FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT THE MD80 PLT THOUGHT HE HEARD 'ACR Z, YOU'RE CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 34L BEHIND THE ACFT ON SHORT FINAL.' A NEAR MISS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.