Narrative:

WX at dca was 1800 broken with 4 mi (light rain and fog). I received a high angle intercept to the lda/dma 18. I was also vectored in at 5000' instead of 3000'. When cleared for the approach I went through the lda and reintercepted. I was high and dropped gear and full flaps to lose altitude. Descending at 1500 to 2000 FPM to intercept the G/south I broke out of the clouds. I called the airport in sight and was cleared to land on runway 18. Being slightly behind the airplane I performed the before landing checklist while heading for the runway ahead of me. The lda/DME 18 lines you up for runway 15. Being used to landing on runway 15 I saw what I wanted to see and thought things were okay. I set up for a tough crosswind landing. When I was flaring the tower cleared me to land on runway 15. I then realized I was on the wrong runway. Tower caught my mistake and was on top of the situation. While clearing I apologized and they said it was ok and no safety conflict. I think the nos approach chart should warn pilots that when they break out 2-4 mi away they will be lined up with runway 15. The lda inbound course is 145 degree. I should have been more aware. Having a second pilot would have helped. When I looked at the HSI for runway alignment it was set for 145 degree. It matched what was out the window. I should have remembered runway 18 means approximately 180 degree not what the approach course heading is.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMT LANDED ON THE WRONG RWY AT DCA FROM AN LDA DME APCH TO RWY 18. CLRNC WAS TO RWY 18 ACFT LANDED ON RWY 15.

Narrative: WX AT DCA WAS 1800 BROKEN WITH 4 MI (LIGHT RAIN AND FOG). I RECEIVED A HIGH ANGLE INTERCEPT TO THE LDA/DMA 18. I WAS ALSO VECTORED IN AT 5000' INSTEAD OF 3000'. WHEN CLRED FOR THE APCH I WENT THROUGH THE LDA AND REINTERCEPTED. I WAS HIGH AND DROPPED GEAR AND FULL FLAPS TO LOSE ALT. DSNDING AT 1500 TO 2000 FPM TO INTERCEPT THE G/S I BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS. I CALLED THE ARPT IN SIGHT AND WAS CLRED TO LAND ON RWY 18. BEING SLIGHTLY BEHIND THE AIRPLANE I PERFORMED THE BEFORE LNDG CHKLIST WHILE HDG FOR THE RWY AHEAD OF ME. THE LDA/DME 18 LINES YOU UP FOR RWY 15. BEING USED TO LNDG ON RWY 15 I SAW WHAT I WANTED TO SEE AND THOUGHT THINGS WERE OKAY. I SET UP FOR A TOUGH XWIND LNDG. WHEN I WAS FLARING THE TWR CLRED ME TO LAND ON RWY 15. I THEN REALIZED I WAS ON THE WRONG RWY. TWR CAUGHT MY MISTAKE AND WAS ON TOP OF THE SITUATION. WHILE CLRING I APOLOGIZED AND THEY SAID IT WAS OK AND NO SAFETY CONFLICT. I THINK THE NOS APCH CHART SHOULD WARN PLTS THAT WHEN THEY BREAK OUT 2-4 MI AWAY THEY WILL BE LINED UP WITH RWY 15. THE LDA INBND COURSE IS 145 DEG. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE AWARE. HAVING A SECOND PLT WOULD HAVE HELPED. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE HSI FOR RWY ALIGNMENT IT WAS SET FOR 145 DEG. IT MATCHED WHAT WAS OUT THE WINDOW. I SHOULD HAVE REMEMBERED RWY 18 MEANS APPROX 180 DEG NOT WHAT THE APCH COURSE HDG IS.

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