Began approach to wrong airport. Tower provided vector to destination.

Attributes
ACN	101291
Time
Date	198901
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : nzj
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : nzj tower : sna
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 160
ASRS Report	101291
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Mistook el toro military airfield for john wayne airport and entered air traffic area for downwind approach. John wayne tower alerted me I was at el toro and to proceed 180 degree turn south to coast then vectored me to john wayne pattern entry. Identify should be positive before entering pattern at unfamiliar airport for landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BEGAN APCH TO WRONG ARPT. TWR PROVIDED VECTOR TO DESTINATION.

Narrative: MISTOOK EL TORO MIL AIRFIELD FOR JOHN WAYNE ARPT AND ENTERED ATA FOR DOWNWIND APCH. JOHN WAYNE TWR ALERTED ME I WAS AT EL TORO AND TO PROCEED 180 DEG TURN S TO COAST THEN VECTORED ME TO JOHN WAYNE PATTERN ENTRY. IDENT SHOULD BE POSITIVE BEFORE ENTERING PATTERN AT UNFAMILIAR ARPT FOR LNDG.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.