Narrative:

Approaching from the south we were advised we would have a visual approach to runway 31L at jfk. A bit later; perhaps 10 miles out; as we were approaching the approach end of both runway 31L and runway 31R approach control changed our runway to 31L. We were asking to report seeing the field. I had great difficulty seeing it. My first officer said he saw it so I told him to report us seeing the field; which he did. We were subsequently cleared the visual to runway 31L. To compound the ensuing problem; we were just a bit higher than an imaginary glideslope but about 210 KTS; a speed which would require slowing at a faster rate than normal. I had the ILS to runway 31L dialed in but we never got guidance as the ILS was not working although neither tower; approach; or ATIS reported it being out of service. I did extend the centerline from the 5 miles fix for runway 31L but subsequently became preoccupied with acquiring runway 31L. I then thought I found it but it happened to be runway 31R. We rolled out on runway 31R centerline no more than 2 miles from company heavy jet on its approach to runway 31R. We then realized we were heading for the wrong runway and began to correct to runway 31L at about 4 to 5 miles from the end of the runway. It was during our turn back to the west that tower informed us we were lined up on the wrong runway. We told them we were correcting back to runway 31L. All during the correction I was having my first officer direct me to the course centerline for runway 31L as I never did pick it up until we were almost right in front of it. During this time of distraction we ended up at least 10 KTS under approach speed. My first officer pointed out our airspeed and I corrected back to vref plus 5. The final 1000 ft of the approach and landing was uneventful. In the future; I will not accept a visual unless I also see not only the field; but the runway as well. At jfk; this is nearly impossible for a visual to runway 31L as it has no VASI; no approach lights; and only dimly lit red lights annotating a half a mile of unusual runway since it is a displaced threshold of 3000 ft. In accommodating approach and their sequencing plan; I compromised safety; relying strictly on my first officer which I should not have done.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An Air Carrier Captain accepted a visual approach to JFK's Runway 31L when the runway was not in sight. The approach was unstabilized with track and speed deviations down to about 1;000'.

Narrative: Approaching from the south we were advised we would have a visual approach to Runway 31L at JFK. A bit later; perhaps 10 miles out; as we were approaching the approach end of both Runway 31L and Runway 31R Approach Control changed our Runway to 31L. We were asking to report seeing the field. I had great difficulty seeing it. My First Officer said he saw it so I told him to report us seeing the field; which he did. We were subsequently cleared the visual to Runway 31L. To compound the ensuing problem; we were just a bit higher than an imaginary glideslope but about 210 KTS; a speed which would require slowing at a faster rate than normal. I had the ILS to Runway 31L dialed in but we never got guidance as the ILS was not working although neither Tower; Approach; or ATIS reported it being out of service. I did extend the centerline from the 5 miles fix for Runway 31L but subsequently became preoccupied with acquiring Runway 31L. I then thought I found it but it happened to be Runway 31R. We rolled out on Runway 31R centerline no more than 2 miles from company heavy jet on its approach to Runway 31R. We then realized we were heading for the wrong runway and began to correct to Runway 31L at about 4 to 5 miles from the end of the runway. It was during our turn back to the west that Tower informed us we were lined up on the wrong runway. We told them we were correcting back to Runway 31L. All during the correction I was having my First Officer direct me to the course centerline for Runway 31L as I never did pick it up until we were almost right in front of it. During this time of distraction we ended up at least 10 KTS under approach speed. My First Officer pointed out our airspeed and I corrected back to Vref plus 5. The final 1000 FT of the approach and landing was uneventful. In the future; I will not accept a visual unless I also see not only the field; but the runway as well. AT JFK; this is nearly impossible for a visual to Runway 31L as it has no VASI; no approach lights; and only dimly lit red lights annotating a half a mile of unusual runway since it is a displaced threshold of 3000 FT. In accommodating approach and their sequencing plan; I compromised safety; relying strictly on my First Officer which I should not have done.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.