Date: 201212
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: VNY.Airport, CA
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 6
Light: Dusk
Aircraft: Citation X (C750)
Operator: Fractional
Operating under: Part 91
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Airspace: Class D VNY
ATC / advisory: Tower VNY
Second aircraft: Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Reporter organization: Fractional
Reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Second reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; Captain
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Contributing factors: Airport; Procedure; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: Part 91K flight; upon arriving into VNY (VMC 6 SM) cleared to land on [Runway] 16R from the ILS 16R approach; we noticed a Cessna 172 on a left downwind. On Tower we heard that a Cessna had us in sight and they were going to follow us. At that time; as we were stable; on course; on slope fully configured; I noticed the Cessna on left downwind turning left base. They were headed right for us. I queried ATC about the traffic and they replied that they were following us; but they were talking about a Cessna on right traffic but that wasn't clear. However; the traffic was at our 10 o'clock position; perpendicular to us; flying straight towards our final. We were about 2 miles out on final; about 800 FT AGL; 140 KTS. They were approaching within 50 FT vertically and within 1;000 FT horizontally from our aircraft; still flying towards us now approaching our 9 o'clock position. If they were landing 16L they seemed to be too close to us; so we executed a missed approach. We flew a right traffic pattern at 2;000 FT per Tower instructions. When we asked the Tower about the traffic again; they claimed they were landing the left side and that traffic was on a different frequency; thus the confusion. However; we don't recall being told at anytime from Tower that we were to look for traffic landing the parallel. I am not certain if we received a RA (Resolution Advisory) but I'm certain I heard TRAFFIC; TRAFFIC numerous times. With my workload so high I cannot recall if I heard the RA because we already had the traffic in sight and we were evading the situation. Upon landing; we called the Tower and they apologized for not telling us about the traffic; but claimed it was very common for parallel operations in VNY. He wasn't sure if the Cessna ever had us in sight. Make sure the Tower personnel are aware that separation requirements for these two runways are not acceptable distances for [company] operations and that better precautions should commence ASAP.


Second narrative: Upon arriving in VNY we were cleared for the ILS 16R approach. At the Marker we were instructed to switch to VNY Tower which we did. VNY Tower cleared us to land on Runway 16R. We noticed a single engine Cessna on a left downwind. On the Tower frequency (119.30) we heard that a Cessna had us in sight and they were going to follow us. During this phase of flight inside the marker proceeding visually; we were fully configured and stabilized on the approach to land. We then noticed a single engine Cessna on left downwind turning left base and heading right toward our direction of flight on our glide path. We queried ATC about the traffic and their reply to us was that the traffic was following us. The aircraft in question was at our 10:00 position flying straight towards our final. We were approximately 2 miles on final approach; approximately 800 FT AGL; 135KTS. The target was approaching within 50 FT vertically and 1;000 FT horizontally and moving toward our 9:00 position. For an aircraft landing on the parallel Runway 16L they were too close to our position and in the interest of safety we executed a go-around/missed approach. Per Tower's instruction we flew a right traffic pattern at 2;000 FT MSL. We queried the Tower once again about the traffic and they replied that the traffic was landing on Runway 16L and that the traffic was on a different frequency; thus the confusion. To our recollection we were never informed by the Tower that we were looking traffic landing on the parallel. After we landed we phoned the Tower and they apologized for not informing us about the traffic; the Tower stated that it was common practice for parallel operations. The Tower wasn't sure if the Cessna traffic ever had us in sight since the Tower Controller worked a different frequency.


Synopsis: Corporate jet landing VNY executed a go around after being confused with regard to traffic. The Tower was referencing one Cessna while the flight crew was concerned over the proximity of another Cessna.