<< >> NASA ASRS Report 175927, April 1991

Pilot of small aircraft twin declared VFR and sighted wrong airport. Controller intervened and vectored flight back on localizer for sjc.

Attributes
ACN	175927
Time
Date	199104
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sjc
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute : direct enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 320 flight time type : 12
ASRS Report	175927
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

IFR filed to sjc, ca. Clearance radar vectors oak direct sjc. After some vectors to intercept ILS 12R/sjc, we were asked whether airport in sight. At this time, we were still IMC/broken, and I (PIC) reported negative. When clouds were scattered, copilot reported airfield in sight and we got cleared for the visibility approach 12L, sjc. At this time we were still east of the localizer course and about 8 mi from moffett NAS, which we thought was sjc international. After passing though the localizer course, we noted some more discrepancies in runway layout and in course (but these were strong xwinds from right/west making this judgement difficult). We noticed our error approach 4 mi from moffett, simultaneously with approach control and were given vectors back on course to sjc. There were no reported traffic conflicts or other complaints from ATC. I was not asked to report to ATC. Conclusion: I should not have accepted a visibility into unknown airport.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA TWIN DECLARED VFR AND SIGHTED WRONG ARPT. CTLR INTERVENED AND VECTORED FLT BACK ON LOC FOR SJC.

Narrative: IFR FILED TO SJC, CA. CLRNC RADAR VECTORS OAK DIRECT SJC. AFTER SOME VECTORS TO INTERCEPT ILS 12R/SJC, WE WERE ASKED WHETHER ARPT IN SIGHT. AT THIS TIME, WE WERE STILL IMC/BROKEN, AND I (PIC) RPTED NEGATIVE. WHEN CLOUDS WERE SCATTERED, COPLT RPTED AIRFIELD IN SIGHT AND WE GOT CLRED FOR THE VIS APCH 12L, SJC. AT THIS TIME WE WERE STILL E OF THE LOC COURSE AND ABOUT 8 MI FROM MOFFETT NAS, WHICH WE THOUGHT WAS SJC INTL. AFTER PASSING THOUGH THE LOC COURSE, WE NOTED SOME MORE DISCREPANCIES IN RWY LAYOUT AND IN COURSE (BUT THESE WERE STRONG XWINDS FROM R/W MAKING THIS JUDGEMENT DIFFICULT). WE NOTICED OUR ERROR APCH 4 MI FROM MOFFETT, SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH APCH CTL AND WERE GIVEN VECTORS BACK ON COURSE TO SJC. THERE WERE NO RPTED TFC CONFLICTS OR OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM ATC. I WAS NOT ASKED TO RPT TO ATC. CONCLUSION: I SHOULD NOT HAVE ACCEPTED A VIS INTO UNKNOWN ARPT.

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.