Single engine turboprop pilot became distracted by a tractor mowing near the runway during a visual ...

Narrative:

First of all I would like to apologize I'm totally embarrassed; I've flown into ftw hundreds of times and I know better. I was cleared for a visual approach. Prior to landing I received ATIS info and I didn't recall them talking about mowers in the area. When I contacted tower they warned me of a helicopter between runways taking off. I was busy watching for him and noticed a tractor mowing at what I thought was end of runway. I got so distracted watching the tractor I didn't look down the runway for the runway markings. The odd thing was the tower didn't mention the tractor at the end of the runway. I was so distracted I didn't pay full attention I immediately knew I had goofed up. Just about 50 ft off the ground I saw there wasn't a conflict with another plane and went ahead and landed. I thought it may have been more dangerous to try and abort and go around because I was so close to the ground. Tower instructed me to call and I did. I can assure you this will never happen again. I loaded passengers and left 30 minutes later and got ATIS info and they were warning of tractors mowing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Single engine turboprop pilot became distracted by a tractor mowing near the runway during a visual approach to Runway 16. He did not realize until the last moment that he was lined up with Taxiway A and elected to land as the taxiway was clear.

Narrative: First of all I would like to apologize I'm totally embarrassed; I've flown into FTW hundreds of times and I know better. I was cleared for a visual approach. Prior to landing I received ATIS info and I didn't recall them talking about mowers in the area. When I contacted tower they warned me of a helicopter between runways taking off. I was busy watching for him and noticed a tractor mowing at what I thought was end of runway. I got so distracted watching the tractor I didn't look down the runway for the runway Markings. The odd thing was the tower didn't mention the tractor at the end of the runway. I was so distracted I didn't pay full attention I immediately knew I had goofed up. Just about 50 ft off the ground I saw there wasn't a conflict with another plane and went ahead and landed. I thought it may have been more dangerous to try and abort and go around because I was so close to the ground. Tower instructed me to call and I did. I can assure you this will never happen again. I loaded passengers and left 30 minutes later and got ATIS info and they were warning of tractors mowing.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Attributes
ACN	1342469
Time
Date	201603
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	FTW.Airport
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft Low Wing 1 Eng Retractable Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Direct Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 45 Flight Crew Total 3500 Flight Crew Type 600
Events
Anomaly	Ground Incursion Taxiway

Single engine turboprop pilot became distracted by a tractor mowing near the runway during a visual approach to runway 16. He did not realize until the last moment that he was lined up with taxiway a and elected to land as the taxiway was clear.