Unauthorized landing without clearance by an air carrier large transport at sfo.

Attributes
ACN	403130
Time
Date	199805
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sfo tower : sfo
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach ground other : taxi landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 160 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	403130
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 23000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	403077
Events
Anomaly	incursion : landing without clearance non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During RNAV visual approach runway 28R at sfo, radio workload on approach frequency became high with traffic calls, airspeed calls, and instructions to 'do not pass aircraft ahead.' PF and PNF discussed traffic and speed control. Lowered gear, and PNF performed landing checklist. At 1000 ft, PNF called 1000 ft, PF replied automatically 'cleared to land.' however, we were still on approach control frequency, and never received landing clearance from tower. Contributing factor was that approach controller never called us to switch to tower frequency. We realized our error when turning off runway, PNF noticed we were still on approach control frequency. Pace of approach procedure and closing on parallel traffic were distrs. Main cause of error was the automatic response 'cleared to land,' as part of SOP without thinking. Fortunately, no conflict with other traffic occurred.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTH LNDG WITHOUT CLRNC BY AN ACR LGT AT SFO.

Narrative: DURING RNAV VISUAL APCH RWY 28R AT SFO, RADIO WORKLOAD ON APCH FREQ BECAME HIGH WITH TFC CALLS, AIRSPD CALLS, AND INSTRUCTIONS TO 'DO NOT PASS ACFT AHEAD.' PF AND PNF DISCUSSED TFC AND SPD CTL. LOWERED GEAR, AND PNF PERFORMED LNDG CHKLIST. AT 1000 FT, PNF CALLED 1000 FT, PF REPLIED AUTOMATICALLY 'CLRED TO LAND.' HOWEVER, WE WERE STILL ON APCH CTL FREQ, AND NEVER RECEIVED LNDG CLRNC FROM TWR. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THAT APCH CTLR NEVER CALLED US TO SWITCH TO TWR FREQ. WE REALIZED OUR ERROR WHEN TURNING OFF RWY, PNF NOTICED WE WERE STILL ON APCH CTL FREQ. PACE OF APCH PROC AND CLOSING ON PARALLEL TFC WERE DISTRS. MAIN CAUSE OF ERROR WAS THE AUTOMATIC RESPONSE 'CLRED TO LAND,' AS PART OF SOP WITHOUT THINKING. FORTUNATELY, NO CONFLICT WITH OTHER TFC OCCURRED.

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.