B767 missed inbound turn to localizer at atl resulting in potential conflict with parallel traffic.

Attributes
ACN	594380
Time
Date	200309
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : a80.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767-300 and 300 ER
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 26r other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : a80.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	ATR Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 27l
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	594380
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Miss Distance	horizontal : 6000 vertical : 1500
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On vector to ILS runway 26R atl at 5000 ft MSL just outside freal to localizer approximately heading 210 degrees, controller said 'air carrier X 180 degrees.' we started a turn to 180 degrees which took us through the localizer. At that time controller cleared us to 4500 ft right turn 310 degree intercept the localizer. We were higher than, and behind, an ATR flying to runway 27L ILS. I don't consider this a near miss since we had a visual and 1500 ft separation. We were then told heading 310 degrees altitude 5000 ft. We thought the controller was breaking us out because we now crossed the localizer again. Then the controller gave us another heading a lower altitude and cleared us for the approach. We were in visual conditions, but not in sight of the airport. We expedited our descent and made an uneventful approach from outside the OM. Just prior to our approach the controller was having some difficulty communicating with a flight in front of us.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767 MISSED INBOUND TURN TO LOC AT ATL RESULTING IN POTENTIAL CONFLICT WITH PARALLEL TFC.

Narrative: ON VECTOR TO ILS RWY 26R ATL AT 5000 FT MSL JUST OUTSIDE FREAL TO LOC APPROX HEADING 210 DEGS, CTLR SAID 'ACR X 180 DEGS.' WE STARTED A TURN TO 180 DEGS WHICH TOOK US THROUGH THE LOC. AT THAT TIME CTLR CLRED US TO 4500 FT R TURN 310 DEG INTERCEPT THE LOC. WE WERE HIGHER THAN, AND BEHIND, AN ATR FLYING TO RWY 27L ILS. I DON'T CONSIDER THIS A NEAR MISS SINCE WE HAD A VISUAL AND 1500 FT SEPARATION. WE WERE THEN TOLD HEADING 310 DEGS ALT 5000 FT. WE THOUGHT THE CTLR WAS BREAKING US OUT BECAUSE WE NOW CROSSED THE LOC AGAIN. THEN THE CTLR GAVE US ANOTHER HEADING A LOWER ALT AND CLRED US FOR THE APCH. WE WERE IN VISUAL CONDITIONS, BUT NOT IN SIGHT OF THE ARPT. WE EXPEDITED OUR DSCNT AND MADE AN UNEVENTFUL APCH FROM OUTSIDE THE OM. JUST PRIOR TO OUR APCH THE CTLR WAS HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY COMMUNICATING WITH A FLT IN FRONT OF US.

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.