Narrative:

I departed radford, va intending to fly 15 mi to virginia tech. Since I was unfamiliar with the area, I decided to fly pilotage at a lower altitude; however, I used my VOR as a backup. I noted my time at liftoff and figured the flight would require approximately 15 mins. Since I was at a lower altitude 2500-3500' MSL, I had to maneuver around some hills. Apparently the tailwind was much stronger than expected as I saw a city in the distance and thought it was blacksburg. In fact, it was roanoke; however, I did not realize it was roanoke until 4-6 mi out. At that time, I executed a 180 degree turn and followed my route back. I was able to locate the blacksburg airport and land west/O incident. I discovered my mistake by comparing the location of the airport with my sectional in relationship to the towns. It is obvious that my tailwind was quite strong and influenced the speed at my plane. I had not given it adequate consideration in my preflight planning because the flight was to be so brief. Even though it was a short flight, I should also have contacted roanoke approach for assistance because I was unfamiliar with the area.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTH PENETRATION OF ARSA OCCURS AS TEMPORARILY LOST SMA PLT MISIDENTIFIES DESTINATION ARPT.

Narrative: I DEPARTED RADFORD, VA INTENDING TO FLY 15 MI TO VIRGINIA TECH. SINCE I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE AREA, I DECIDED TO FLY PILOTAGE AT A LOWER ALT; HOWEVER, I USED MY VOR AS A BACKUP. I NOTED MY TIME AT LIFTOFF AND FIGURED THE FLT WOULD REQUIRE APPROX 15 MINS. SINCE I WAS AT A LOWER ALT 2500-3500' MSL, I HAD TO MANEUVER AROUND SOME HILLS. APPARENTLY THE TAILWIND WAS MUCH STRONGER THAN EXPECTED AS I SAW A CITY IN THE DISTANCE AND THOUGHT IT WAS BLACKSBURG. IN FACT, IT WAS ROANOKE; HOWEVER, I DID NOT REALIZE IT WAS ROANOKE UNTIL 4-6 MI OUT. AT THAT TIME, I EXECUTED A 180 DEG TURN AND FOLLOWED MY RTE BACK. I WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE BLACKSBURG ARPT AND LAND W/O INCIDENT. I DISCOVERED MY MISTAKE BY COMPARING THE LOCATION OF THE ARPT WITH MY SECTIONAL IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE TOWNS. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT MY TAILWIND WAS QUITE STRONG AND INFLUENCED THE SPD AT MY PLANE. I HAD NOT GIVEN IT ADEQUATE CONSIDERATION IN MY PREFLT PLANNING BECAUSE THE FLT WAS TO BE SO BRIEF. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A SHORT FLT, I SHOULD ALSO HAVE CONTACTED ROANOKE APCH FOR ASSISTANCE BECAUSE I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE AREA.

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.