An MD80 on a night visual approach to lgb became disoriented; and tower sent them around for vectors...

Attributes
ACN	708099
Time
Date	200608
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lgb.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lgb.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
ASRS Report	708099
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance Airport
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

It was night and we accepted the visual approach into lgb. We intercepted a 5 mi final as asked by approach. Upon talking with tower; he asked if we had the runway. We said yes; he said that we must not and gave us a go around. We climbed to 2000 ft or 3000 ft and did a 270 degree turn as he stated. Neither of us still had the airport. We then contacted approach control for vectors for the ILS to runway 30. We landed with no problems. At night it is very hard to see lgb with all the lights. Personally; at night I will take the vectors for the ILS to make sure I was lined up with the correct lights.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 ON A NIGHT VISUAL APCH TO LGB BECAME DISORIENTED; AND TWR SENT THEM AROUND FOR VECTORS TO THE ILS.

Narrative: IT WAS NIGHT AND WE ACCEPTED THE VISUAL APCH INTO LGB. WE INTERCEPTED A 5 MI FINAL AS ASKED BY APCH. UPON TALKING WITH TWR; HE ASKED IF WE HAD THE RWY. WE SAID YES; HE SAID THAT WE MUST NOT AND GAVE US A GAR. WE CLBED TO 2000 FT OR 3000 FT AND DID A 270 DEG TURN AS HE STATED. NEITHER OF US STILL HAD THE ARPT. WE THEN CONTACTED APCH CTL FOR VECTORS FOR THE ILS TO RWY 30. WE LANDED WITH NO PROBS. AT NIGHT IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE LGB WITH ALL THE LIGHTS. PERSONALLY; AT NIGHT I WILL TAKE THE VECTORS FOR THE ILS TO MAKE SURE I WAS LINED UP WITH THE CORRECT LIGHTS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

An MD80 on a night visual approach to lgb became disoriented; and tower sent them around for vectors to the ILS.