Air carrier on visual approach lines up with wrong runway complex. Approach controller sees error, c...

Attributes
ACN	213788
Time
Date	199206
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 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 : flight engineer pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	213788
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
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:

While flying the runway 24/25 profile descent into lax, we were told to report the field in sight and expect the stadium visual to 24R. Shortly after passing smo VOR, we were given the visual approach and approach pointed out traffic to us. I took my eyes off the airport and looked for traffic and ground references, then looked back at the airport and started lining up on the runway. At this point, we were 10-12 mi east of the airport and in a right turn. WX was typically hazy and I turned to line up on the right runway (we were cleared visual to 24R). As we approached the marker, tower said 'I show you lined up for the south complex' (25L/right). The south complex goes further to the east than the north complex (24L/right) and I had fixated on the 'right' runway that was easiest to see. Tower cleared us to land on 24L and we were able to maneuver back to the north and land without incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR ON VISUAL APCH LINES UP WITH WRONG RWY COMPLEX. APCH CTLR SEES ERROR, CORRECTS.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING THE RWY 24/25 PROFILE DSCNT INTO LAX, WE WERE TOLD TO RPT THE FIELD IN SIGHT AND EXPECT THE STADIUM VISUAL TO 24R. SHORTLY AFTER PASSING SMO VOR, WE WERE GIVEN THE VISUAL APCH AND APCH POINTED OUT TFC TO US. I TOOK MY EYES OFF THE ARPT AND LOOKED FOR TFC AND GND REFS, THEN LOOKED BACK AT THE ARPT AND STARTED LINING UP ON THE RWY. AT THIS POINT, WE WERE 10-12 MI E OF THE ARPT AND IN A R TURN. WX WAS TYPICALLY HAZY AND I TURNED TO LINE UP ON THE R RWY (WE WERE CLRED VISUAL TO 24R). AS WE APCHED THE MARKER, TWR SAID 'I SHOW YOU LINED UP FOR THE S COMPLEX' (25L/R). THE S COMPLEX GOES FURTHER TO THE E THAN THE N COMPLEX (24L/R) AND I HAD FIXATED ON THE 'R' RWY THAT WAS EASIEST TO SEE. TWR CLRED US TO LAND ON 24L AND WE WERE ABLE TO MANEUVER BACK TO THE N AND LAND WITHOUT INCIDENT.

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.

Air carrier on visual approach lines up with wrong runway complex. Approach controller sees error, corrects.