Traffic sequence mixup between aircraft on visual approach to runway 23.

Attributes
ACN	82116
Time
Date	198802
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : clt
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2300 msl bound upper : 2300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : clt artcc : slc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	82116
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 16 flight time total : 4600 flight time type : 185
ASRS Report	82110
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

On approach to runway 23 at clt we were turned to a heading for our base leg. Traffic medium large transport Y was called at 2 O'clock. We called traffic insight and then were cleared for a visual to follow him. In my turn to final I spotted a second medium large transport Z high at my 10 O'clock position. I first thought he was being vectored over the airport for another runway. On about a 6 mi final the medium large transport Z came over us and started to descended for an approach to 23. I started a turn to the left. The final controller at first told me to turn right. I felt this would put us in conflict. He (the controller) obviously agreed as he instantly came back with 'left turn approach.' he then stated something to the effect, 'everybody standby while I straighten out the approach sequence.' I never felt we were in danger or would have to take abrupt action. I think the confusion comes from minimum sep from too many airplanes on a VFR day from 1 controller. Supplemental information from acn 82110: we requested a left turn back to a left base. This turn was agreed to by the controller. From this position we made the visual approach to landing. Supplemental information from acn 82115:we had not seen him before. The medium large transport Z then crossed the final approach course in front of us at an angle of 90 degrees to the inbound course. This aircraft was maneuvering for the visual to follow the aircraft that we were cleared to follow. It appeared that there was some confusion between the controller and the aircraft on approach as to the sequence for landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRAFFIC SEQUENCE MIXUP BETWEEN ACFT ON VISUAL APCH TO RWY 23.

Narrative: ON APCH TO RWY 23 AT CLT WE WERE TURNED TO A HDG FOR OUR BASE LEG. TFC MLG Y WAS CALLED AT 2 O'CLOCK. WE CALLED TFC INSIGHT AND THEN WERE CLRED FOR A VISUAL TO FOLLOW HIM. IN MY TURN TO FINAL I SPOTTED A SECOND MLG Z HIGH AT MY 10 O'CLOCK POS. I FIRST THOUGHT HE WAS BEING VECTORED OVER THE ARPT FOR ANOTHER RWY. ON ABOUT A 6 MI FINAL THE MLG Z CAME OVER US AND STARTED TO DESCENDED FOR AN APCH TO 23. I STARTED A TURN TO THE LEFT. THE FINAL CTLR AT FIRST TOLD ME TO TURN RIGHT. I FELT THIS WOULD PUT US IN CONFLICT. HE (THE CTLR) OBVIOUSLY AGREED AS HE INSTANTLY CAME BACK WITH 'LEFT TURN APCH.' HE THEN STATED SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT, 'EVERYBODY STANDBY WHILE I STRAIGHTEN OUT THE APCH SEQUENCE.' I NEVER FELT WE WERE IN DANGER OR WOULD HAVE TO TAKE ABRUPT ACTION. I THINK THE CONFUSION COMES FROM MINIMUM SEP FROM TOO MANY AIRPLANES ON A VFR DAY FROM 1 CTLR. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 82110: WE REQUESTED A LEFT TURN BACK TO A LEFT BASE. THIS TURN WAS AGREED TO BY THE CTLR. FROM THIS POS WE MADE THE VISUAL APCH TO LNDG. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 82115:WE HAD NOT SEEN HIM BEFORE. THE MLG Z THEN CROSSED THE FINAL APCH COURSE IN FRONT OF US AT AN ANGLE OF 90 DEGS TO THE INBND COURSE. THIS ACFT WAS MANEUVERING FOR THE VISUAL TO FOLLOW THE ACFT THAT WE WERE CLRED TO FOLLOW. IT APPEARED THAT THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION BTWN THE CTLR AND THE ACFT ON APCH AS TO THE SEQUENCE FOR LNDG.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.