An A300 airbus flight crew is cleared for approach to a closed runway at las.

Attributes
ACN	724235
Time
Date	200701
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : las.tower
State Reference	NV
Altitude	agl single value : 700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : las.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	724235
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

ATIS at las listed runway 25L for landing; and runway 25R for departure. While doing the filed approach into las; we were cleared to the outermost approach point on the runway 25L ILS and to 8000 ft. We joined the ILS and were cleared for the approach. I continued the approach. At the marker; we prompted approach control for clearance to contact tower. Tower cleared us to land runway 25L. I notice at this point the VASI for runway 25L is lite; but the runway lights were either very low or off. 25R was at high intensity; and an aircraft was departing runway 25R. At approximately 2 miles; I asked the tower to raise the lights on runway 25L. He replied that that wouldn't work; it was closed. We were then cleared to land on 25R. At approximately 600 ft; I executed a shift to runway 25R and landed without incident. I have no idea what was going on; but we were from the beginning set up and cleared for runway 25L. If not for the lights being out; and my questioning this; we could have landed on a closed runway. Las tower showed no concern over this and no explanation for the mix-up was given. ATIS still showed runway 25L as opened; and runway 25R being used for departures.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A300 AIRBUS FLT CREW IS CLRED FOR APCH TO A CLOSED RWY AT LAS.

Narrative: ATIS AT LAS LISTED RWY 25L FOR LNDG; AND RWY 25R FOR DEP. WHILE DOING THE FILED APCH INTO LAS; WE WERE CLEARED TO THE OUTERMOST APCH POINT ON THE RWY 25L ILS AND TO 8000 FT. WE JOINED THE ILS AND WERE CLEARED FOR THE APCH. I CONTINUED THE APCH. AT THE MARKER; WE PROMPTED APCH CTL FOR CLRNC TO CONTACT TWR. TWR CLRED US TO LAND RWY 25L. I NOTICE AT THIS POINT THE VASI FOR RWY 25L IS LITE; BUT THE RWY LIGHTS WERE EITHER VERY LOW OR OFF. 25R WAS AT HIGH INTENSITY; AND AN ACFT WAS DEPARTING RWY 25R. AT APPROX 2 MILES; I ASKED THE TWR TO RAISE THE LIGHTS ON RWY 25L. HE REPLIED THAT THAT WOULDN'T WORK; IT WAS CLOSED. WE WERE THEN CLEARED TO LAND ON 25R. AT APPROX 600 FT; I EXECUTED A SHIFT TO RWY 25R AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON; BUT WE WERE FROM THE BEGINNING SET UP AND CLRED FOR RWY 25L. IF NOT FOR THE LIGHTS BEING OUT; AND MY QUESTIONING THIS; WE COULD HAVE LANDED ON A CLOSED RWY. LAS TWR SHOWED NO CONCERN OVER THIS AND NO EXPLANATION FOR THE MIX-UP WAS GIVEN. ATIS STILL SHOWED RWY 25L AS OPENED; AND RWY 25R BEING USED FOR DEPARTURES.

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.