Narrative:

While under atl approach control we were given a 030 heading off the mikee 4 arrival into dobbins. ATC had advised that we were being vectored north of dobbins for a right downwind for a gca into runway 29 at dobbins. After a descent call we asked if we could get in on runway 11 as the winds were reported calm. After several seconds approach control said yes but being so close we asked for a 360 turn to slow and configure. Approach said not but said to pick up the field visually, fly over and enter a downwind, did we have the field? Yes reported the PNF. I did not see the field but continued forward with guidance from both the PNF and flight engineer. While flying toward the approach end of 11 at approximately 3000 ft I spotted traffic at 11 O'clock level about 1 mi so I descended and turned toward the field. I became suspicious that perhaps we were not at the correct airport. Passing over the field I looked for signs of military aircraft and facilities at the same time executing a 90 degree right turn for a right 180 degree for runway 11. The TACAN read 4 DME and I asked the PNF if the TACAN was on the field. He said no. When we came through the 90 degree with gear down and slowing the PNF said to go around. He had recognized the field as kennisaw municipal and not dobbins. We waved off and recontacted approach control telling them we had lost the field. He then vectored us to the approach end of runway 29 at dobbins which was just over the hill from kennisaw. My personal lesson learned is that when entering an unfamiliar air traffic area at night (or day) I will always take radar vectors to facility to ensure I'm approaching the proper field. Also, I will not take a visual ever unless I personally see and am sure the field is in view.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MIL SPC WRONG ARPT APCH VISUAL.

Narrative: WHILE UNDER ATL APCH CTL WE WERE GIVEN A 030 HDG OFF THE MIKEE 4 ARR INTO DOBBINS. ATC HAD ADVISED THAT WE WERE BEING VECTORED N OF DOBBINS FOR A R DOWNWIND FOR A GCA INTO RWY 29 AT DOBBINS. AFTER A DSCNT CALL WE ASKED IF WE COULD GET IN ON RWY 11 AS THE WINDS WERE RPTED CALM. AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS APCH CTL SAID YES BUT BEING SO CLOSE WE ASKED FOR A 360 TURN TO SLOW AND CONFIGURE. APCH SAID NOT BUT SAID TO PICK UP THE FIELD VISUALLY, FLY OVER AND ENTER A DOWNWIND, DID WE HAVE THE FIELD? YES RPTED THE PNF. I DID NOT SEE THE FIELD BUT CONTINUED FORWARD WITH GUIDANCE FROM BOTH THE PNF AND FLT ENGINEER. WHILE FLYING TOWARD THE APCH END OF 11 AT APPROX 3000 FT I SPOTTED TFC AT 11 O'CLOCK LEVEL ABOUT 1 MI SO I DSNDED AND TURNED TOWARD THE FIELD. I BECAME SUSPICIOUS THAT PERHAPS WE WERE NOT AT THE CORRECT ARPT. PASSING OVER THE FIELD I LOOKED FOR SIGNS OF MIL ACFT AND FACILITIES AT THE SAME TIME EXECUTING A 90 DEG R TURN FOR A R 180 DEG FOR RWY 11. THE TACAN READ 4 DME AND I ASKED THE PNF IF THE TACAN WAS ON THE FIELD. HE SAID NO. WHEN WE CAME THROUGH THE 90 DEG WITH GEAR DOWN AND SLOWING THE PNF SAID TO GAR. HE HAD RECOGNIZED THE FIELD AS KENNISAW MUNICIPAL AND NOT DOBBINS. WE WAVED OFF AND RECONTACTED APCH CTL TELLING THEM WE HAD LOST THE FIELD. HE THEN VECTORED US TO THE APCH END OF RWY 29 AT DOBBINS WHICH WAS JUST OVER THE HILL FROM KENNISAW. MY PERSONAL LESSON LEARNED IS THAT WHEN ENTERING AN UNFAMILIAR ATA AT NIGHT (OR DAY) I WILL ALWAYS TAKE RADAR VECTORS TO FACILITY TO ENSURE I'M APCHING THE PROPER FIELD. ALSO, I WILL NOT TAKE A VISUAL EVER UNLESS I PERSONALLY SEE AND AM SURE THE FIELD IS IN VIEW.

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.