GA small aircraft wrong runway approach at 26N.

Attributes
ACN	175174
Time
Date	199104
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 26n
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	agl bound lower : 500 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other landing : go around
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 500
ASRS Report	175174
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 6000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

En route to ocean city, nj, airport I tuned in unicom/CTAF 122.8. There was a lot of traffic on this frequency, which is the unicom/CTAF for numerous local airports. While 3 mi north I learned that the active runway was 24. While looking at the airport diagram I noted that this has right traffic. I also learned that there were several airplanes in the pattern. Somehow, in listening for relevant unicom traffic, looking out for other aircraft etc, I became disoriented and flew a right downwind for runway 6 (believing I was flying a right downwind for runway 24). I turned base, then final, then realized my error and broke off the approach while approximately 500' above and one mi away from the end of the runway. Fortunately, I did not come close to any of the other aircraft in the pattern; though one airplane had started a takeoff roll on runway 24 as I broke off my approach, I do not believe we came closer than about one mi from each other. Had I checked my dg or compass on initial approach, downwind or base I would have realized my error earlier, but I am still puzzled about how I became disoriented in the first place, as I normally have very good directional awareness. I am resolved to check and rechk on future approachs!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA WRONG RWY APCH AT 26N.

Narrative: ENRTE TO OCEAN CITY, NJ, ARPT I TUNED IN UNICOM/CTAF 122.8. THERE WAS A LOT OF TFC ON THIS FREQ, WHICH IS THE UNICOM/CTAF FOR NUMEROUS LCL ARPTS. WHILE 3 MI N I LEARNED THAT THE ACTIVE RWY WAS 24. WHILE LOOKING AT THE ARPT DIAGRAM I NOTED THAT THIS HAS R TFC. I ALSO LEARNED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL AIRPLANES IN THE PATTERN. SOMEHOW, IN LISTENING FOR RELEVANT UNICOM TFC, LOOKING OUT FOR OTHER ACFT ETC, I BECAME DISORIENTED AND FLEW A R DOWNWIND FOR RWY 6 (BELIEVING I WAS FLYING A R DOWNWIND FOR RWY 24). I TURNED BASE, THEN FINAL, THEN REALIZED MY ERROR AND BROKE OFF THE APCH WHILE APPROX 500' ABOVE AND ONE MI AWAY FROM THE END OF THE RWY. FORTUNATELY, I DID NOT COME CLOSE TO ANY OF THE OTHER ACFT IN THE PATTERN; THOUGH ONE AIRPLANE HAD STARTED A TKOF ROLL ON RWY 24 AS I BROKE OFF MY APCH, I DO NOT BELIEVE WE CAME CLOSER THAN ABOUT ONE MI FROM EACH OTHER. HAD I CHKED MY DG OR COMPASS ON INITIAL APCH, DOWNWIND OR BASE I WOULD HAVE REALIZED MY ERROR EARLIER, BUT I AM STILL PUZZLED ABOUT HOW I BECAME DISORIENTED IN THE FIRST PLACE, AS I NORMALLY HAVE VERY GOOD DIRECTIONAL AWARENESS. I AM RESOLVED TO CHK AND RECHK ON FUTURE APCHS!

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.