Narrative:

We were on approach to pdx, heading 030 degrees at 6000'. Pdx was conducting visibility approachs to runways 28 left and right. An air carrier Y medium large transport was reported on straight in to runway 28R (we could see his lights). We were directed to turn to 330 degrees, descend and intercept the extended centerline of runway 28L for a visibility approach. As I rolled into our turn to 300 degree I lost sight of air carrier Y light. I rolled wings level and told the controller I was unable to keep air carrier Y in sight. We were now told to 'turn to 330 degree for intercept, continue, air carrier Y had us in sight'. I turned at 30 degree angle bank (so not to overshoot final) and rolled out on 280 degree. Coming wings level, I discovered the medium large transport at my 1:30 position, about 300'-400' at our altitude, turning away from us. We were on separate frequencys, unable to talk to each other. In hindsight, I should have refused the approach and requested vectors behind air carrier Y. I trusted the controller to keep us separated, rather than my own good sense.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLOSE PROX DURING SIMULTANEOUS VISUAL APCHS TO PARALLEL RWYS AT PDX.

Narrative: WE WERE ON APCH TO PDX, HDG 030 DEGS AT 6000'. PDX WAS CONDUCTING VIS APCHS TO RWYS 28 L AND R. AN ACR Y MLG WAS RPTED ON STRAIGHT IN TO RWY 28R (WE COULD SEE HIS LIGHTS). WE WERE DIRECTED TO TURN TO 330 DEGS, DSND AND INTERCEPT THE EXTENDED CENTERLINE OF RWY 28L FOR A VIS APCH. AS I ROLLED INTO OUR TURN TO 300 DEG I LOST SIGHT OF ACR Y LIGHT. I ROLLED WINGS LEVEL AND TOLD THE CTLR I WAS UNABLE TO KEEP ACR Y IN SIGHT. WE WERE NOW TOLD TO 'TURN TO 330 DEG FOR INTERCEPT, CONTINUE, ACR Y HAD US IN SIGHT'. I TURNED AT 30 DEG ANGLE BANK (SO NOT TO OVERSHOOT FINAL) AND ROLLED OUT ON 280 DEG. COMING WINGS LEVEL, I DISCOVERED THE MLG AT MY 1:30 POS, ABOUT 300'-400' AT OUR ALT, TURNING AWAY FROM US. WE WERE ON SEPARATE FREQS, UNABLE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER. IN HINDSIGHT, I SHOULD HAVE REFUSED THE APCH AND REQUESTED VECTORS BEHIND ACR Y. I TRUSTED THE CTLR TO KEEP US SEPARATED, RATHER THAN MY OWN GOOD SENSE.

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.