Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Retractable Gear
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 87; Flight Crew Total 5230; Flight Crew Type 278
Situational Awareness; Distraction; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Airport; Human Factors; Procedure
I was assigned right downwind for landing on 26R at CNO. Instructed to follow an aircraft on a three mile final. I extended my downwind looking for the traffic. I identified traffic and turned on my base leg. As I turned final I was focused on the aircraft ahead of me wanting to insure I had proper spacing. As the aircraft landed and I approached the runway; I realized I had mistakenly identified an aircraft which was landing on 26L. Just as I was beginning my correction I was advised by the tower that I was lined up on 26L and had been cleared to land on 26R. I acknowledged and informed the controller I was correcting and would do a go around for landing on 26R. I was cleared for right traffic pattern and cleared to land on 26R. I continued right traffic and landed 26R without incident and felt there was no aircraft spacing violated. As a Flight Instructor I have probably landed at this airport a thousand times. I realize that a certain amount of this issue was focusing on the other aircraft and not my total surroundings. A good lesson on why we should treat every landing as a go around possibility.
Small fixed wing pilot reported mistakenly following traffic towards the parallel runway; was advised of his error and executed a go around.