B737-800 flight crew nearly lands on 5L vice 5R at MMMX following a VOR approach.

Attributes
ACN	722675
Time
Date	200701
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mmmx.airport
State Reference	FO
Altitude	agl single value : 500
Environment
Weather Elements	Fog
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	722675
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Chart Or Publication Airport
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Situations
Chart	airport : mmmx.airport approach : vor 05l/r

Narrative:

The normal ILS approach to runway 5R is not available and smog/fog is at or near minimums for the non-ILS approach. Clearance is to fly the VOR runway 5R. At minimums the aircraft is lined up with runway 5L and it is the closest and most prominent runway in sight. Runway 5R is more distant and not nearly as visible! We idented and initially lined up with runway 5L. The HUD was also lined up with runway 5L. When we got tower we saw the error and corrected. As we taxied in we saw 2 other arrs make the same mistake. This is going to bite somebody; it is extremely insidious!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-800 FLT CREW NEARLY LANDS ON 5L VICE 5R AT MMMX FOLLOWING A VOR APCH.

Narrative: THE NORMAL ILS APCH TO RWY 5R IS NOT AVAILABLE AND SMOG/FOG IS AT OR NEAR MINIMUMS FOR THE NON-ILS APCH. CLRNC IS TO FLY THE VOR RWY 5R. AT MINIMUMS THE ACFT IS LINED UP WITH RWY 5L AND IT IS THE CLOSEST AND MOST PROMINENT RWY IN SIGHT. RWY 5R IS MORE DISTANT AND NOT NEARLY AS VISIBLE! WE IDENTED AND INITIALLY LINED UP WITH RWY 5L. THE HUD WAS ALSO LINED UP WITH RWY 5L. WHEN WE GOT TWR WE SAW THE ERROR AND CORRECTED. AS WE TAXIED IN WE SAW 2 OTHER ARRS MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE. THIS IS GOING TO BITE SOMEBODY; IT IS EXTREMELY INSIDIOUS!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.