CL65 on vectors for visual approach to cvg crossed final approach course.

Attributes
ACN	612132
Time
Date	200403
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cvg.airport
State Reference	KY
Altitude	agl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cvg.tracon tower : las.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 200 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cvg.tracon
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 18l
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	612132
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : issued advisory flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

While being vectored for a visual approach to runway 18R in cincinnati, the approach controller apparently issued a visual approach clearance to us which was blocked by another aircraft's transmission. We never heard the clearance and, therefore, never responded to it. The controller then cleared us to slow to 180 KTS and contact tower. About that time we were already passing through the localizer on what we believed was a vector. Realizing what happened, I promptly disconnected the autoplt and turned back towards the final approach course. ATC queried us and informed us that there was traffic on the parallel ILS and requested that we return promptly to the localizer for runway 18R. We landed safely with no further problems. It is troubling to me that a controller would issue a clearance and assume that it was received without hearing a response from the crew. Had we missed his second call, or even paused to question his instruction, we would have been in conflict with all of the aircraft on the runway 18L final.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CL65 ON VECTORS FOR VISUAL APCH TO CVG CROSSED FINAL APCH COURSE.

Narrative: WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 18R IN CINCINNATI, THE APCH CTLR APPARENTLY ISSUED A VISUAL APCH CLRNC TO US WHICH WAS BLOCKED BY ANOTHER ACFT'S XMISSION. WE NEVER HEARD THE CLRNC AND, THEREFORE, NEVER RESPONDED TO IT. THE CTLR THEN CLRED US TO SLOW TO 180 KTS AND CONTACT TWR. ABOUT THAT TIME WE WERE ALREADY PASSING THROUGH THE LOC ON WHAT WE BELIEVED WAS A VECTOR. REALIZING WHAT HAPPENED, I PROMPTLY DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND TURNED BACK TOWARDS THE FINAL APCH COURSE. ATC QUERIED US AND INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS TFC ON THE PARALLEL ILS AND REQUESTED THAT WE RETURN PROMPTLY TO THE LOC FOR RWY 18R. WE LANDED SAFELY WITH NO FURTHER PROBS. IT IS TROUBLING TO ME THAT A CTLR WOULD ISSUE A CLRNC AND ASSUME THAT IT WAS RECEIVED WITHOUT HEARING A RESPONSE FROM THE CREW. HAD WE MISSED HIS SECOND CALL, OR EVEN PAUSED TO QUESTION HIS INSTRUCTION, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN CONFLICT WITH ALL OF THE ACFT ON THE RWY 18L FINAL.

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.