Small aircraft entered the traffic pattern incorrectly.

Attributes
ACN	174741
Time
Date	199103
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ccr
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 800 agl bound upper : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ccr
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 43 flight time total : 200 flight time type : 17
ASRS Report	174741
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 3500 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was attempting to land at ccr. Approaching from the south, I was cleared to enter a left downwind for runway 19L. I then became confused and incorrectly entered the pattern. The fact that it was an unfamiliar airport was a key factor. The controller never made contact with me and eventually insisted that I leave the area to the south because of the large vol of traffic already in the pattern.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN INCORRECTLY.

Narrative: I WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND AT CCR. APCHING FROM THE S, I WAS CLRED TO ENTER A LEFT DOWNWIND FOR RWY 19L. I THEN BECAME CONFUSED AND INCORRECTLY ENTERED THE PATTERN. THE FACT THAT IT WAS AN UNFAMILIAR ARPT WAS A KEY FACTOR. THE CTLR NEVER MADE CONTACT WITH ME AND EVENTUALLY INSISTED THAT I LEAVE THE AREA TO THE S BECAUSE OF THE LARGE VOL OF TFC ALREADY IN THE PATTERN.

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.