GA small transport wrong runway approach at pdk.

Attributes
ACN	194666
Time
Date	199111
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pdk
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 1800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pdk
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	descent other other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 3225 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	194666
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The lights at airport had been off. I was landing after a hold due to lights being off. I had been cleared to land in 2R. My entry into traffic pattern was from northeast and I flew a fairly standard pattern with right turns. I was cleared to land on 2R and had VASI lights in view with dim runway lights. As I continued my descent, tower personnel told me I was not aligned with runway and to go around. Controller said 'left' downwind I thought but I entered right, i.e., did 'go around' to right since this was proper for runway in use. I was then cleared to land on 2L my option. I have 3 comments: I was confused by all lights of city. The VASI lights were plainly visible even though I was not on proper alignment. Checking my directional gyroscope (compass) with runway would have made me aware of my off course heading. I do think that a left pattern would have put me across approach/departure on runway 2L.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMT WRONG RWY APCH AT PDK.

Narrative: THE LIGHTS AT ARPT HAD BEEN OFF. I WAS LNDG AFTER A HOLD DUE TO LIGHTS BEING OFF. I HAD BEEN CLRED TO LAND IN 2R. MY ENTRY INTO TFC PATTERN WAS FROM NE AND I FLEW A FAIRLY STANDARD PATTERN WITH R TURNS. I WAS CLRED TO LAND ON 2R AND HAD VASI LIGHTS IN VIEW WITH DIM RWY LIGHTS. AS I CONTINUED MY DSCNT, TWR PERSONNEL TOLD ME I WAS NOT ALIGNED WITH RWY AND TO GAR. CTLR SAID 'L' DOWNWIND I THOUGHT BUT I ENTERED R, I.E., DID 'GAR' TO R SINCE THIS WAS PROPER FOR RWY IN USE. I WAS THEN CLRED TO LAND ON 2L MY OPTION. I HAVE 3 COMMENTS: I WAS CONFUSED BY ALL LIGHTS OF CITY. THE VASI LIGHTS WERE PLAINLY VISIBLE EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT ON PROPER ALIGNMENT. CHKING MY DIRECTIONAL GYROSCOPE (COMPASS) WITH RWY WOULD HAVE MADE ME AWARE OF MY OFF COURSE HDG. I DO THINK THAT A L PATTERN WOULD HAVE PUT ME ACROSS APCH/DEP ON RWY 2L.

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.