Large transport on approach to wrong runway.

Attributes
ACN	124731
Time
Date	198908
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl tower : atl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 275 flight time total : 3970 flight time type : 340
ASRS Report	124731
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

During approach to atl, approach control (127.9) advised us to expect an ILS to 26R. We set up and briefed for that approach. After switching to 118.35 we were vectored to and were cleared for the 26R approach. We requested confirmation of 26R, but did not receive a reply due to controller's saturation with traffic/congestion on frequency. When told to change to atl tower (119.1) we questioned ourselves (within cockpit) about the frequency which is normally used for south side. We switched frequency and asked if we were on correct frequency. We then were advised to change to 119.5 for 26R. After coming on frequency, we were advised we were on the wrong ILS and were vectored off the approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT ON APCH TO WRONG RWY.

Narrative: DURING APCH TO ATL, APCH CTL (127.9) ADVISED US TO EXPECT AN ILS TO 26R. WE SET UP AND BRIEFED FOR THAT APCH. AFTER SWITCHING TO 118.35 WE WERE VECTORED TO AND WERE CLRED FOR THE 26R APCH. WE REQUESTED CONFIRMATION OF 26R, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A REPLY DUE TO CTLR'S SATURATION WITH TFC/CONGESTION ON FREQ. WHEN TOLD TO CHANGE TO ATL TWR (119.1) WE QUESTIONED OURSELVES (WITHIN COCKPIT) ABOUT THE FREQ WHICH IS NORMALLY USED FOR SOUTH SIDE. WE SWITCHED FREQ AND ASKED IF WE WERE ON CORRECT FREQ. WE THEN WERE ADVISED TO CHANGE TO 119.5 FOR 26R. AFTER COMING ON FREQ, WE WERE ADVISED WE WERE ON THE WRONG ILS AND WERE VECTORED OFF THE APCH.

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.