Turbojet cargo carrier lines up on the wrong runway at pit.

Attributes
ACN	349490
Time
Date	199610
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pit
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	349490
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

This is a classic example of being complacent during VMC approach and landing. During night VMC, approach asked if we could see a C130 descending for runway 32. After locating and calling traffic in sight approach then told us to follow the traffic to runway 32. After looking inside to confirm airspds to begin configuring, I looked back outside and had lost the traffic in ground lighting, but saw what I assumed to be runway 32. While continuing to slow and configure, the first officer commented that we appeared to be lining up for runway 28L. At the same time, approach told us that we appeared to be lining up for runway 28L. I configured this and prepared to go around, but was cleared for approach and landing to runway 28L and continued to an uneventful landing with no traffic conflicts. Although no other aircraft were involved, I was very embarrassed and have taken from this incident the realization that perfect VMC is the most likely time to be paying the least attention. Under different circumstances, the consequences could be severe.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TURBOJET CARGO CARRIER LINES UP ON THE WRONG RWY AT PIT.

Narrative: THIS IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF BEING COMPLACENT DURING VMC APCH AND LNDG. DURING NIGHT VMC, APCH ASKED IF WE COULD SEE A C130 DSNDING FOR RWY 32. AFTER LOCATING AND CALLING TFC IN SIGHT APCH THEN TOLD US TO FOLLOW THE TFC TO RWY 32. AFTER LOOKING INSIDE TO CONFIRM AIRSPDS TO BEGIN CONFIGURING, I LOOKED BACK OUTSIDE AND HAD LOST THE TFC IN GND LIGHTING, BUT SAW WHAT I ASSUMED TO BE RWY 32. WHILE CONTINUING TO SLOW AND CONFIGURE, THE FO COMMENTED THAT WE APPEARED TO BE LINING UP FOR RWY 28L. AT THE SAME TIME, APCH TOLD US THAT WE APPEARED TO BE LINING UP FOR RWY 28L. I CONFIGURED THIS AND PREPARED TO GAR, BUT WAS CLRED FOR APCH AND LNDG TO RWY 28L AND CONTINUED TO AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG WITH NO TFC CONFLICTS. ALTHOUGH NO OTHER ACFT WERE INVOLVED, I WAS VERY EMBARRASSED AND HAVE TAKEN FROM THIS INCIDENT THE REALIZATION THAT PERFECT VMC IS THE MOST LIKELY TIME TO BE PAYING THE LEAST ATTN. UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, THE CONSEQUENCES COULD BE SEVERE.

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.