Air carrier medium large transport wrong runway approach go around at lax.

Attributes
ACN	185796
Time
Date	199108
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax tower : lax
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : profile descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	185796
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were making a visual approach to lax runway 24R. We had flown 24/25 profile descent from filmore VOR. From an altitude of approximately 5000 ft, 7 mi from airport we were given base turn. During base turn, while attempting to lose considerable altitude, 3 targets were pointed out to us, 1 of which we were to follow. In process of locating traffic we lined up with 25R. I was completely convinced I was lined up with 24R. We were unable to contact tower on 133.9, the north complex tower frequency. At approximately 1 mi a missed approach was executed and ensuing landing was uneventful. I was advised later that an aircraft was making approach to 25R. He got a TCAS alert, saw us and was able to move over to 25L. That was the only other aircraft involved. It could have been much nastier. Visual approachs at lax from the north, in my mind, are basically unsafe in the best of condition.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG WRONG RWY APCH GAR AT LAX.

Narrative: WE WERE MAKING A VISUAL APCH TO LAX RWY 24R. WE HAD FLOWN 24/25 PROFILE DSCNT FROM FILMORE VOR. FROM AN ALT OF APPROX 5000 FT, 7 MI FROM ARPT WE WERE GIVEN BASE TURN. DURING BASE TURN, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LOSE CONSIDERABLE ALT, 3 TARGETS WERE POINTED OUT TO US, 1 OF WHICH WE WERE TO FOLLOW. IN PROCESS OF LOCATING TFC WE LINED UP WITH 25R. I WAS COMPLETELY CONVINCED I WAS LINED UP WITH 24R. WE WERE UNABLE TO CONTACT TWR ON 133.9, THE N COMPLEX TWR FREQ. AT APPROX 1 MI A MISSED APCH WAS EXECUTED AND ENSUING LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL. I WAS ADVISED LATER THAT AN ACFT WAS MAKING APCH TO 25R. HE GOT A TCAS ALERT, SAW US AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER TO 25L. THAT WAS THE ONLY OTHER ACFT INVOLVED. IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH NASTIER. VISUAL APCHS AT LAX FROM THE N, IN MY MIND, ARE BASICALLY UNSAFE IN THE BEST OF CONDITION.

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.