Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Workload; Distraction; Confusion
Conflict NMAC; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types
Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related
At approximately 1500 feet AGL on final approach to Runway 26 I noticed an aircraft on TCAS that appeared too close to our aircraft. I looked over my left shoulder and acquired the aircraft visually. The aircraft appeared to be turning onto final for our runway and appeared to be over taking us. I lost sight of it as it disappeared behind the tail of our aircraft so I shifted back to the TCAS display. The TCAS display showed the target continuing to gain on us; and in fact the target appeared to merge with our aircraft and the altitude differential displayed '00'. I initiated a go-around but aborted it as I thought he might be above us. I then disconnected the autopilot and auto-thrust and executed a descending breakout to the right. After getting off the localizer I rolled the wings level and saw the target on the TCAS diverging from our path. A jump seat rider sitting directly behind me reacquired the aircraft visually and informed me he was turning back to the south. I rejoined the localizer and continued the approach and landing as we were still stable.I believe the aircraft either overshot his final approach course for Runway 25L or was cleared to land on Runway 26 and did not slow to approach speed.
An Airbus Captain on final to PHX Runway 26 reported another aircraft apparently overshot the Runway 25L centerline; which resulted in an extremely close airborne encounter.