Landing on closed runway.

Attributes
ACN	129240
Time
Date	198910
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tgi
State Reference	VA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 470
ASRS Report	129240
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a pleasure flight to tangier island, I had been in contact and received clearance to navigation through restr area by patuxent naval base. After leaving patuxent control I landed at tangier island, there was an X marked before runway in dirt. I attempted to call tangier island on unicom--no answer. After landing the airport manager was outside working on a bicycle. He said the airport was closed, and then immediately said it was now open as construction workers were finishing work for the day. Another plane landed immediately. I asked why the 'X' was not on the runway. He said it was too much trouble. I feel that 'X' should have been on runway. Patuxent could have told me airport was closed. Airport manager should have spoken on radio. I should have asked FSS for NOTAMS.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LNDG ON CLOSED RWY.

Narrative: ON A PLEASURE FLT TO TANGIER ISLAND, I HAD BEEN IN CONTACT AND RECEIVED CLRNC TO NAV THROUGH RESTR AREA BY PATUXENT NAVAL BASE. AFTER LEAVING PATUXENT CTL I LANDED AT TANGIER ISLAND, THERE WAS AN X MARKED BEFORE RWY IN DIRT. I ATTEMPTED TO CALL TANGIER ISLAND ON UNICOM--NO ANSWER. AFTER LNDG THE ARPT MGR WAS OUTSIDE WORKING ON A BICYCLE. HE SAID THE ARPT WAS CLOSED, AND THEN IMMEDIATELY SAID IT WAS NOW OPEN AS CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WERE FINISHING WORK FOR THE DAY. ANOTHER PLANE LANDED IMMEDIATELY. I ASKED WHY THE 'X' WAS NOT ON THE RWY. HE SAID IT WAS TOO MUCH TROUBLE. I FEEL THAT 'X' SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON RWY. PATUXENT COULD HAVE TOLD ME ARPT WAS CLOSED. ARPT MGR SHOULD HAVE SPOKEN ON RADIO. I SHOULD HAVE ASKED FSS FOR NOTAMS.

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.