Pilot makes approach to wrong airport.

Attributes
ACN	183398
Time
Date	199107
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lgb
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1600
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sna tower : lgb
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 19 flight time total : 594 flight time type : 15
ASRS Report	183398
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

IFR from lax to lgb, set up for the NDB 30 at lgb. Told by coast, maintain 1600, clear for approach contact tower. I saw los alamitos and disregarded my NDB (I thought it was erroneous) set up to land and realized it was los alamitos. Talking to tower I asked for vectors to lgb. Set up for 30 and was told to circle for 25. After landing I was told to call coast approach. I called and the matter was resolved. I was unfamiliar with the area. To prevent recurrence, I should have also used the VOR as a backup, be more familiar with airport layout.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT MAKES APCH TO WRONG ARPT.

Narrative: IFR FROM LAX TO LGB, SET UP FOR THE NDB 30 AT LGB. TOLD BY COAST, MAINTAIN 1600, CLR FOR APCH CONTACT TWR. I SAW LOS ALAMITOS AND DISREGARDED MY NDB (I THOUGHT IT WAS ERRONEOUS) SET UP TO LAND AND REALIZED IT WAS LOS ALAMITOS. TALKING TO TWR I ASKED FOR VECTORS TO LGB. SET UP FOR 30 AND WAS TOLD TO CIRCLE FOR 25. AFTER LNDG I WAS TOLD TO CALL COAST APCH. I CALLED AND THE MATTER WAS RESOLVED. I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE AREA. TO PREVENT RECURRENCE, I SHOULD HAVE ALSO USED THE VOR AS A BACKUP, BE MORE FAMILIAR WITH ARPT LAYOUT.

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.