Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Procedure
On approach to SNA approach controller issued a descent for the approach. While descending controller issued vectors for us to intercept final for an approach to LGB. We immediately realized his error and did not accept the vectors. We advised him we were going to SNA. Controller then instructed us to climb and gave us new vectors to SNA.Controller became confused and thought LGB was our destination.
During the descent we were then given a left turn away from the field to a heading of 270 deg. We did not start that turn and at that point we DID question the controller. He then said he was actually vectoring us to LGB. Once realizing his mistake he climbed us back to 3;000 feet and the rest of the approach was normal. He apologized to us for the mistake. I never had it in my mmd that ATC would be sending us to the wrong airport. What I learned from this was never to blindly trust ATC. This was a classic HF DLR/DFR and we should have questioned the clearance sooner.This was an ATC error; and an HF error on the crew's part. I should have questioned the descent to 1;600 feet recognizing that the Glideslope Intercept Altitude (GS INT ALT) at SNA is 2;200 feet; that they rarely give a visual to that airport; and that there is terrain north of the field. Only when they turned us the wrong way did we finally say something.
An aircraft with SNA as its destination was being vectored to an LGB final when the crew finally questioned the Controller who had become confused about the flight's destination. The flight was climbed and returned to SNA.