Narrative:

Stl, marginal VMC-IMC, executing simultaneous parallel (side-by-side) approachs lda DME runway 12L, and ILS runway 12R. Crew planned for ILS runway 12R at stl, then at 15 mi final approach switched us to lda runway 12L, at 8 mi final approach told us to break off lda localizer and turn left, to set-up for another downwind lda runway 12L. Then radar vectors to lda runway 12L 10 mi final, cleared approach runway 12L lda (IMC), and controller told us to maintain 170 KIAS to potsy (final approach fix at 6.2 DME). This put us fast at final approach fix, in IMC, when we should have been properly slowed to 130 KIAS with full flaps (40 degrees) and landing gear down: thus, at the final approach fix crew was overloaded with effort to get gear down and flaps 40 degrees and descend and slow. Approach controller never told us to switch to tower, until inside missed approach point, when I was visually angling to runway in sight. Unfortunately, with staggered parallel runways at stl, I had flown toward runway 12R. I never saw the other aircraft lined up on runway 12R! Lessons: in IMC -- the aircraft on the non-precision approach must be permitted to execute normal IMC procedures: fully slowed and configured with checklist complete at final approach fix (so that proper descent to MDA can be conducted). Thus, no ATC speed 170 KIAS (fast) restrs at final approach fix. In IMC -- controllers must be fully proficient in monitoring the aircraft on parallel side-by-side (IMC) approachs, and ensure those aircraft are sent to tower frequency prior to missed approach, preferably prior to final approach fix. I flew the published lda runway 12L approach from the right seat. I never saw any aircraft on my right, but flew on instruments to missed approach, because runway obscured by fog or scud. At missed approach, I turned right when I saw the runway, but I headed for runway 12R (closer threshold with staggered runways). The captain noticed that I was flying toward the wrong runway, and took control, turned rapidly left away from runway 12R, and landed on the far staggered runway 12L. Factors: IMC WX, poor ATC, crew's permitting ATC to fly aircraft and simultaneous parallel approachs.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MD83 DEVIATES FROM IAP LDA RWY 12L PROC AT STL ARPT AS FO, PF, FOCUSES ON WRONG RWY, CAUSING PARALLEL ILS TFC TO GAR.

Narrative: STL, MARGINAL VMC-IMC, EXECUTING SIMULTANEOUS PARALLEL (SIDE-BY-SIDE) APCHS LDA DME RWY 12L, AND ILS RWY 12R. CREW PLANNED FOR ILS RWY 12R AT STL, THEN AT 15 MI FINAL APCH SWITCHED US TO LDA RWY 12L, AT 8 MI FINAL APCH TOLD US TO BREAK OFF LDA LOC AND TURN L, TO SET-UP FOR ANOTHER DOWNWIND LDA RWY 12L. THEN RADAR VECTORS TO LDA RWY 12L 10 MI FINAL, CLRED APCH RWY 12L LDA (IMC), AND CTLR TOLD US TO MAINTAIN 170 KIAS TO POTSY (FINAL APCH FIX AT 6.2 DME). THIS PUT US FAST AT FINAL APCH FIX, IN IMC, WHEN WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROPERLY SLOWED TO 130 KIAS WITH FULL FLAPS (40 DEGS) AND LNDG GEAR DOWN: THUS, AT THE FINAL APCH FIX CREW WAS OVERLOADED WITH EFFORT TO GET GEAR DOWN AND FLAPS 40 DEGS AND DSND AND SLOW. APCH CTLR NEVER TOLD US TO SWITCH TO TWR, UNTIL INSIDE MISSED APCH POINT, WHEN I WAS VISUALLY ANGLING TO RWY IN SIGHT. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH STAGGERED PARALLEL RWYS AT STL, I HAD FLOWN TOWARD RWY 12R. I NEVER SAW THE OTHER ACFT LINED UP ON RWY 12R! LESSONS: IN IMC -- THE ACFT ON THE NON-PRECISION APCH MUST BE PERMITTED TO EXECUTE NORMAL IMC PROCS: FULLY SLOWED AND CONFIGURED WITH CHKLIST COMPLETE AT FINAL APCH FIX (SO THAT PROPER DSCNT TO MDA CAN BE CONDUCTED). THUS, NO ATC SPD 170 KIAS (FAST) RESTRS AT FINAL APCH FIX. IN IMC -- CTLRS MUST BE FULLY PROFICIENT IN MONITORING THE ACFT ON PARALLEL SIDE-BY-SIDE (IMC) APCHS, AND ENSURE THOSE ACFT ARE SENT TO TWR FREQ PRIOR TO MISSED APCH, PREFERABLY PRIOR TO FINAL APCH FIX. I FLEW THE PUBLISHED LDA RWY 12L APCH FROM THE R SEAT. I NEVER SAW ANY ACFT ON MY R, BUT FLEW ON INSTS TO MISSED APCH, BECAUSE RWY OBSCURED BY FOG OR SCUD. AT MISSED APCH, I TURNED R WHEN I SAW THE RWY, BUT I HEADED FOR RWY 12R (CLOSER THRESHOLD WITH STAGGERED RWYS). THE CAPT NOTICED THAT I WAS FLYING TOWARD THE WRONG RWY, AND TOOK CTL, TURNED RAPIDLY L AWAY FROM RWY 12R, AND LANDED ON THE FAR STAGGERED RWY 12L. FACTORS: IMC WX, POOR ATC, CREW'S PERMITTING ATC TO FLY ACFT AND SIMULTANEOUS PARALLEL APCHS.

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.