An air carrier on approach to iah with weather related radio static did not clearly establish the la...

Narrative:

Upon initial contact to houston approach we were told to expect ILS 26L. This is the last time either of us can positively recall hearing a runway clearance or assignment. While on a long downwind on the north side of the airport we were switched between communication 1 and communication 2 a few times due to the static in the radios presumably caused by the moderate rain. When communication 1 would become unreadable we would switch to #2 and visa versa. Pilot flying briefed the arrival for ILS 26L. On the final vector to intercept the localizer we both recall hearing; 'turn right heading (blank) and intercept the localizer.' as the needle came alive for 26L; ATC asked if we were in the turn to intercept and that he showed us left of course. This is when we realized he had cleared us for 26R. We acknowledged and ATC gave us a new heading to intercept the 26R localizer. While we don't remember ever getting cleared for the right runway; I'm sure we missed or misheard a call somewhere on downwind. Cause was static over the radios [due to] poor weather; making it difficult to communicate with each other and with ATC. Our error was failure to intercept the proper localizer. Aircraft well south of course for the right side putting us in the approach path for 26L.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An Air Carrier on approach to IAH with weather related radio static did not clearly establish the landing runway assignment. After intercepting the Runway 26L ILS; they realized they were cleared for Runway 26R when ATC questioned their course.

Narrative: Upon initial contact to Houston Approach we were told to expect ILS 26L. This is the last time either of us can positively recall hearing a runway clearance or assignment. While on a long downwind on the north side of the airport we were switched between COM 1 and COM 2 a few times due to the static in the radios presumably caused by the moderate rain. When COM 1 would become unreadable we would switch to #2 and visa versa. Pilot flying briefed the arrival for ILS 26L. On the final vector to intercept the LOC we both recall hearing; 'turn right heading (blank) and intercept the LOC.' As the needle came alive for 26L; ATC asked if we were in the turn to intercept and that he showed us left of course. This is when we realized he had cleared us for 26R. We acknowledged and ATC gave us a new heading to intercept the 26R LOC. While we don't remember ever getting cleared for the right runway; I'm sure we missed or misheard a call somewhere on downwind. Cause was static over the radios [due to] poor weather; making it difficult to communicate with each other and with ATC. Our error was failure to intercept the proper LOC. Aircraft well south of course for the right side putting us in the approach path for 26L.

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	982830
Time
Date	201112
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	IAH.Airport
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Medium Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	VHF
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Flying
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

An air carrier on approach to iah with weather related radio static did not clearly establish the landing runway assignment. After intercepting the runway 26L ILS; they realized they were cleared for runway 26R when ATC questioned their course.