Air carrier on visual approach lined up with wrong runway. Executed go around at request of tower.

Attributes
ACN	139433
Time
Date	199003
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 600 msl bound upper : 600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dca
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
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 165 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	139433
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Performing the river visual to runway 18 at washington (dca) airport. On our final turn from the river to final for runway 189 we rolled wings level for runway 15. Realizing our mistake, we initiated a turn for runway 18. Asked if we were turning to runway 18. We replied affirmative. The tower said 'go around'. An aircraft was cleared for takeoff on 18 but another aircraft was holding for him on 15. We confused the 2 aircraft and realizing our mistake initiated a turn to the correct runway. In the interest of safety, we concurred and made a go around. A closer observance of the magnetic heading turning to final would have prevented this.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR ON VISUAL APCH LINED UP WITH WRONG RWY. EXECUTED GO AROUND AT REQUEST OF TWR.

Narrative: PERFORMING THE RIVER VISUAL TO RWY 18 AT WASHINGTON (DCA) ARPT. ON OUR FINAL TURN FROM THE RIVER TO FINAL FOR RWY 189 WE ROLLED WINGS LEVEL FOR RWY 15. REALIZING OUR MISTAKE, WE INITIATED A TURN FOR RWY 18. ASKED IF WE WERE TURNING TO RWY 18. WE REPLIED AFFIRMATIVE. THE TWR SAID 'GO AROUND'. AN ACFT WAS CLRED FOR TKOF ON 18 BUT ANOTHER ACFT WAS HOLDING FOR HIM ON 15. WE CONFUSED THE 2 ACFT AND REALIZING OUR MISTAKE INITIATED A TURN TO THE CORRECT RWY. IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY, WE CONCURRED AND MADE A GO AROUND. A CLOSER OBSERVANCE OF THE MAGNETIC HDG TURNING TO FINAL WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS.

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