Potential conflict during visual approach.

Attributes
ACN	293510
Time
Date	199501
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	SF 340A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	293510
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 12000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Visual approach on the buj arrival to dfw at about sunset, we were on the 45 degree intercept for runway 17L, when approach asked if we had the saab in sight in front of us. The first officer answered in the affirmative. Spacing looked good to me, probably because I was looking at the wrong saab, at least, as best I have been able to determine in my mind. It was the TCASII that alerted me to the close proximity to the traffic that were actually to be following. No TA occurred and the target did not turn yellow but indeed it was probably about 2 mi at my 2 O'clock position. We turned left off of the intercept heading and continued to the southeast and were instructed to reattempt contact with approach control for another approach. Arrival into the sun, multiple similar aircraft, first officer calling out traffic in sight prior to captain's positive verification are all contributory. I am aware that I take responsibility for separation on a visual.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POTENTIAL CONFLICT DURING VISUAL APCH.

Narrative: VISUAL APCH ON THE BUJ ARR TO DFW AT ABOUT SUNSET, WE WERE ON THE 45 DEG INTERCEPT FOR RWY 17L, WHEN APCH ASKED IF WE HAD THE SAAB IN SIGHT IN FRONT OF US. THE FO ANSWERED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. SPACING LOOKED GOOD TO ME, PROBABLY BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING AT THE WRONG SAAB, AT LEAST, AS BEST I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE IN MY MIND. IT WAS THE TCASII THAT ALERTED ME TO THE CLOSE PROX TO THE TFC THAT WERE ACTUALLY TO BE FOLLOWING. NO TA OCCURRED AND THE TARGET DID NOT TURN YELLOW BUT INDEED IT WAS PROBABLY ABOUT 2 MI AT MY 2 O'CLOCK POS. WE TURNED L OFF OF THE INTERCEPT HDG AND CONTINUED TO THE SE AND WERE INSTRUCTED TO REATTEMPT CONTACT WITH APCH CTL FOR ANOTHER APCH. ARR INTO THE SUN, MULTIPLE SIMILAR ACFT, FO CALLING OUT TFC IN SIGHT PRIOR TO CAPT'S POSITIVE VERIFICATION ARE ALL CONTRIBUTORY. I AM AWARE THAT I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SEPARATION ON A VISUAL.

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.