MD80 crew tried to intercept the localizer with a VOR frequency tuned in.

Attributes
ACN	501940
Time
Date	200102
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : c90.tracon tower : mia.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Super 80
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 27r
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : c90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 27l
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	501940
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	501939
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : company policies non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We came out of holding to pappi intersection then vectors to final. It was hazy and we received vectors for ILS runway 27R at ord. While preparing for the ILS runway 27R, we were given traffic going to the ILS runway 27L. I was distraction and never dialed in the localizer frequency to runway 27R. I was on ord VOR frequency 113.9. So when I armed the localizer to capture, it actually armed the VOR. I saw the annunciation in the FMA but was concentrating on the traffic. Although he was close horizontally, we appeared to have good vertical separation. Having been in other parallel ILS sits and other sits of close proximity to other aircraft, I was not concerned. Also, the first officer said he had idented the localizer frequency and I did not doublechk at that moment. I normally verify all idents. I then looked at my FMA and saw the VOR track annunciation and realized my mistake. I corrected and idented the proper frequency and turned 30 degrees to get on course. We landed uneventfully. ATC asked us if he had cleared us for the approach or just to intercept localizer shortly before we found our mistake. ATC did not advise us if we caused a conflict or not.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 CREW TRIED TO INTERCEPT THE LOC WITH A VOR FREQ TUNED IN.

Narrative: WE CAME OUT OF HOLDING TO PAPPI INTXN THEN VECTORS TO FINAL. IT WAS HAZY AND WE RECEIVED VECTORS FOR ILS RWY 27R AT ORD. WHILE PREPARING FOR THE ILS RWY 27R, WE WERE GIVEN TFC GOING TO THE ILS RWY 27L. I WAS DISTR AND NEVER DIALED IN THE LOC FREQ TO RWY 27R. I WAS ON ORD VOR FREQ 113.9. SO WHEN I ARMED THE LOC TO CAPTURE, IT ACTUALLY ARMED THE VOR. I SAW THE ANNUNCIATION IN THE FMA BUT WAS CONCENTRATING ON THE TFC. ALTHOUGH HE WAS CLOSE HORIZLY, WE APPEARED TO HAVE GOOD VERT SEPARATION. HAVING BEEN IN OTHER PARALLEL ILS SITS AND OTHER SITS OF CLOSE PROX TO OTHER ACFT, I WAS NOT CONCERNED. ALSO, THE FO SAID HE HAD IDENTED THE LOC FREQ AND I DID NOT DOUBLECHK AT THAT MOMENT. I NORMALLY VERIFY ALL IDENTS. I THEN LOOKED AT MY FMA AND SAW THE VOR TRACK ANNUNCIATION AND REALIZED MY MISTAKE. I CORRECTED AND IDENTED THE PROPER FREQ AND TURNED 30 DEGS TO GET ON COURSE. WE LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. ATC ASKED US IF HE HAD CLRED US FOR THE APCH OR JUST TO INTERCEPT LOC SHORTLY BEFORE WE FOUND OUR MISTAKE. ATC DID NOT ADVISE US IF WE CAUSED A CONFLICT OR NOT.

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.