Narrative:

As we descended from santa monica VOR on downwind to lax, the socal approach controller issued us a clearance for a visual approach to runway 24L. Upon switching to tower frequency, we were cleared to land (no change of runway or sidestep clearance was issued). Subsequently, a commuter turboprop was issued clearance to takeoff from runway 24L. At approximately 300 ft, upon realizing the aircraft was just about to take the runway, we initiated a go around and returned to land on runway 24R. The tower controller appeared to be unaware of approach control having cleared us for an approach to runway 24L. Better coordination between facilities would help to prevent this kind of incident.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH CTLR ASSIGNED LNDG RWY THAT TWR HAD ACFT TAKING OFF FROM. FLC DID GAR.

Narrative: AS WE DSNDED FROM SANTA MONICA VOR ON DOWNWIND TO LAX, THE SOCAL APCH CTLR ISSUED US A CLRNC FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 24L. UPON SWITCHING TO TWR FREQ, WE WERE CLRED TO LAND (NO CHANGE OF RWY OR SIDESTEP CLRNC WAS ISSUED). SUBSEQUENTLY, A COMMUTER TURBOPROP WAS ISSUED CLRNC TO TKOF FROM RWY 24L. AT APPROX 300 FT, UPON REALIZING THE ACFT WAS JUST ABOUT TO TAKE THE RWY, WE INITIATED A GAR AND RETURNED TO LAND ON RWY 24R. THE TWR CTLR APPEARED TO BE UNAWARE OF APCH CTL HAVING CLRED US FOR AN APCH TO RWY 24L. BETTER COORD BTWN FACILITIES WOULD HELP TO PREVENT THIS KIND OF 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.