B737 first officer reports lining up with runway 21 at biggs during a low visibility visual approach...

Narrative:

We were using LNAV direct aguas anticipating the visual into runway 22 at el paso. We were at 6;500 ft MSL and getting very close to aguas when cleared for the visual to runway 22 at el paso. Visibility was poor due to blowing dust and I had not picked up the runway yet. The runway was at the 10 to 11 o'clock and I was in the right seat as pilot flying. The captain called out the runway and I located a runway at 11 o'clock. Appearing to be high; I immediately continued to configure for landing and remained visual. Noting that my localizer and glide slope were not matching up with my visual picture; I notified the captain. The tower was preoccupied on the radio at the time and was unable to assist us as we were lining up on the wrong runway. At some point slightly below 1;000 ft AGL; the captain noted that we were lined up on runway 21 at biggs. At the same time; el paso tower notified us of the same. I initiated a go-around and returned for a safe landing on runway 22 at el paso. I should have briefed the potential hazard of similarly aligned runways at el paso and biggs. I should have continued to use my navigation equipment in the process of navigating to the correct runway.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 First Officer reports lining up with Runway 21 at Biggs during a low visibility visual approach to Runway 22 at ELP. A go around is initiated when both ATC and the crew detect the error.

Narrative: We were using LNAV direct AGUAS anticipating the visual into Runway 22 at El Paso. We were at 6;500 ft MSL and getting very close to AGUAS when cleared for the visual to Runway 22 at El Paso. Visibility was poor due to blowing dust and I had not picked up the runway yet. The runway was at the 10 to 11 o'clock and I was in the right seat as pilot flying. The Captain called out the runway and I located a runway at 11 o'clock. Appearing to be high; I immediately continued to configure for landing and remained visual. Noting that my LOC and glide slope were not matching up with my visual picture; I notified the Captain. The Tower was preoccupied on the radio at the time and was unable to assist us as we were lining up on the wrong runway. At some point slightly below 1;000 FT AGL; the Captain noted that we were lined up on Runway 21 at Biggs. At the same time; El Paso Tower notified us of the same. I initiated a go-around and returned for a safe landing on Runway 22 at El Paso. I should have briefed the potential hazard of similarly aligned runways at EL Paso and Biggs. I should have continued to use my NAV equipment in the process of navigating to the correct runway.

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.

Attributes
ACN	954733
Time
Date	201106
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ELP.Tower
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 195
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 241
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

B737 first officer reports lining up with runway 21 at biggs during a low visibility visual approach to runway 22 at elp. A go around is initiated when both ATC and the crew detect the error.