Small aircraft lands on parallel taxiway after mistaking same for parallel runway.

Attributes
ACN	123871
Time
Date	198909
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : grr
State Reference	MI
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : grr
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 510 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	123871
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was approaching grand rapids, mi, with some minor radio troubles. I was vectored around and told to follow an small aircraft on final for runway 26R. I followed traffic until I was cleared to land. When I turned final, the sun was in my face. I saw what I thought were 2 runways and a taxiway. It turned out to be runway 26L and 2 txwys. I landed on what I thought was 26R. It turned out to be the parallel taxiway for 26L (since the sun was in my face, I couldn't see any runway markings). After landing, ground control informed me of the situation. I later talked with the chief controller and explained. I later found out that runway 26R was on the other side of the field about a mile away.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA LANDS ON PARALLEL TXWY AFTER MISTAKING SAME FOR PARALLEL RWY.

Narrative: I WAS APCHING GRAND RAPIDS, MI, WITH SOME MINOR RADIO TROUBLES. I WAS VECTORED AROUND AND TOLD TO FOLLOW AN SMA ON FINAL FOR RWY 26R. I FOLLOWED TFC UNTIL I WAS CLRED TO LAND. WHEN I TURNED FINAL, THE SUN WAS IN MY FACE. I SAW WHAT I THOUGHT WERE 2 RWYS AND A TXWY. IT TURNED OUT TO BE RWY 26L AND 2 TXWYS. I LANDED ON WHAT I THOUGHT WAS 26R. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE PARALLEL TXWY FOR 26L (SINCE THE SUN WAS IN MY FACE, I COULDN'T SEE ANY RWY MARKINGS). AFTER LNDG, GND CTL INFORMED ME OF THE SITUATION. I LATER TALKED WITH THE CHIEF CTLR AND EXPLAINED. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT RWY 26R WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIELD ABOUT A MILE AWAY.

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.