C172 pilot reports confusing runways 10L and 10R with runways 28R and 28L; while arriving from the w...

Attributes
ACN	1093749
Time
Date	201306
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	FCM.Airport
State Reference	MN
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Private Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 45 Flight Crew Total 300 Flight Crew Type 175
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Narrative:

I confused runways 10L and 10R with runways 28R and 28L; probably because of their close alignment with the direction from which I was approaching (I was arriving from the west; so runways 10L and 10R somehow seemed more appropriate even when told to expect 28L). After having confused the direction of the runways; being told to make a right midfield downwind for 28R made me think I needed to fly southeast bound to essentially come from the opposite direction toward what was really 10R. At this point I should have proceeded to query the controller but flew southeast bound instead. After just a bit of flight to the southeast; the controller told me to fly southeast for the downwind to 28L (I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt; but I was still thinking 10R and that she'd said 28R); confusing me further. Eventually after flying a left downwind for 28L; I asked if she wanted me to extend my downwind; but she replied that she then wanted a left base to 28L and cleared me to land; which I did without incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 pilot reports confusing Runways 10L and 10R with Runways 28R and 28L; while arriving from the west. An inappropriate ground track is flown when instructed to make a right midfield downwind for 28R. With ATC assistance a successful landing ensues.

Narrative: I confused Runways 10L and 10R with Runways 28R and 28L; probably because of their close alignment with the direction from which I was approaching (I was arriving from the west; so runways 10L and 10R somehow seemed more appropriate even when told to expect 28L). After having confused the direction of the runways; being told to make a right midfield downwind for 28R made me think I needed to fly southeast bound to essentially come from the opposite direction toward what was really 10R. At this point I should have proceeded to query the Controller but flew southeast bound instead. After just a bit of flight to the southeast; the Controller told me to fly southeast for the downwind to 28L (I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt; but I was still thinking 10R and that she'd said 28R); confusing me further. Eventually after flying a left downwind for 28L; I asked if she wanted me to extend my downwind; but she replied that she then wanted a left base to 28L and cleared me to land; which I did without incident.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

C172 pilot reports confusing runways 10L and 10R with runways 28R and 28L; while arriving from the west. An inappropriate ground track is flown when instructed to make a right midfield downwind for 28R. With ATC assistance a successful landing ensues.