Narrative:

We were flying the pdz arrival to lax runway 25L. WX was clear, visibility unlimited. Approaching fuelr intersection, we were told to report runway 25L in sight. We did so, and were subsequently 'cleared for the visual approach to runway 25L.' we accepted the clearance and began to slow from 250 KTS assigned, while descending without the autoplt engaged. Approaching fuelr, on localizer, we were descending with the assistance of speed brakes through approximately 9000 ft. At this time we noticed an aircraft on TCASII, 500 ft below us and converging. We received no TA from lax approach control. I immediately initiated evasive action by smoothly applying power, stowing the speed brakes, and initiating a climb straight ahead back to approximately 9000 ft. The only TCASII alert was 'traffic.' at the closest point, this aircraft was approximately 2-3 mi to our left and only 300 ft below us. We made visual contact with what appeared to be a single engine cessna. We reported this to lax approach control and requested vectors off localizer for another visual approach. We then queried lax approach as to the traffic. The controller said 'it was a cessna skylane maneuvering at 8500 ft.' the controller also said words to the effect that 'he was talking to a controller in the other room.' we informed the controller that 'it was close.' we continued to a normal landing. I am concerned that we were cleared for a 'visual approach' with a known potential traffic conflict existing. Why a VFR aircraft would be permitted to maneuver near the localizer at altitudes being passed by fast moving aircraft on approach, is beyond my ability to comprehend. Fortunately for all concerned, a potentially serious incident was avoided.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 CREW APPROX 30 MI OUT ON A VISUAL APCH TO LAX RWY 25L TAKE EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID A C182 AT 8500 FT.

Narrative: WE WERE FLYING THE PDZ ARR TO LAX RWY 25L. WX WAS CLR, VISIBILITY UNLIMITED. APCHING FUELR INTXN, WE WERE TOLD TO RPT RWY 25L IN SIGHT. WE DID SO, AND WERE SUBSEQUENTLY 'CLRED FOR THE VISUAL APCH TO RWY 25L.' WE ACCEPTED THE CLRNC AND BEGAN TO SLOW FROM 250 KTS ASSIGNED, WHILE DSNDING WITHOUT THE AUTOPLT ENGAGED. APCHING FUELR, ON LOC, WE WERE DSNDING WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF SPD BRAKES THROUGH APPROX 9000 FT. AT THIS TIME WE NOTICED AN ACFT ON TCASII, 500 FT BELOW US AND CONVERGING. WE RECEIVED NO TA FROM LAX APCH CTL. I IMMEDIATELY INITIATED EVASIVE ACTION BY SMOOTHLY APPLYING PWR, STOWING THE SPD BRAKES, AND INITIATING A CLB STRAIGHT AHEAD BACK TO APPROX 9000 FT. THE ONLY TCASII ALERT WAS 'TFC.' AT THE CLOSEST POINT, THIS ACFT WAS APPROX 2-3 MI TO OUR L AND ONLY 300 FT BELOW US. WE MADE VISUAL CONTACT WITH WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SINGLE ENG CESSNA. WE RPTED THIS TO LAX APCH CTL AND REQUESTED VECTORS OFF LOC FOR ANOTHER VISUAL APCH. WE THEN QUERIED LAX APCH AS TO THE TFC. THE CTLR SAID 'IT WAS A CESSNA SKYLANE MANEUVERING AT 8500 FT.' THE CTLR ALSO SAID WORDS TO THE EFFECT THAT 'HE WAS TALKING TO A CTLR IN THE OTHER ROOM.' WE INFORMED THE CTLR THAT 'IT WAS CLOSE.' WE CONTINUED TO A NORMAL LNDG. I AM CONCERNED THAT WE WERE CLRED FOR A 'VISUAL APCH' WITH A KNOWN POTENTIAL TFC CONFLICT EXISTING. WHY A VFR ACFT WOULD BE PERMITTED TO MANEUVER NEAR THE LOC AT ALTS BEING PASSED BY FAST MOVING ACFT ON APCH, IS BEYOND MY ABILITY TO COMPREHEND. FORTUNATELY FOR ALL CONCERNED, A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS INCIDENT WAS AVOIDED.

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.