Small aircraft pilot has radio failure on approach in IMC. Uses hand held. Lands wrong runway.

Attributes
ACN	203906
Time
Date	199203
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bwi
State Reference	MD
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	approach : circling
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 980 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	203906
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe incursion : landing without clearance non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was in IMC, cleared for the ILS 28, circle to runway 33R at bwi. When center directed me to contact tower, I had radio failure. I picked up my hand held radio, and advised tower of my situation. They said my transmission was poor, clear to land runway 28, circle to runway 33L. After landing, I was asked to call the tower. The tower asked why I landed on the wrong runway. I responded that I understood 33L, although originally I was cleared to 33R. I explained that while it was difficult to hear the tower, I could swear he said 33L, and I acknowledged. I explained that I could have easily landed on 33R, if that's what I was cleared to do. The tower then asked me to get my radios fixed. In retrospect, I should have asked for a clarification of the runway. I thought I was cleared for 33L because of the radio failure. Under the circumstances, I thought I handled the situation in a safe and proficient manner, in spite of being in IMC with no communication.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT HAS RADIO FAILURE ON APCH IN IMC. USES HAND HELD. LANDS WRONG RWY.

Narrative: I WAS IN IMC, CLRED FOR THE ILS 28, CIRCLE TO RWY 33R AT BWI. WHEN CTR DIRECTED ME TO CONTACT TWR, I HAD RADIO FAILURE. I PICKED UP MY HAND HELD RADIO, AND ADVISED TWR OF MY SITUATION. THEY SAID MY XMISSION WAS POOR, CLR TO LAND RWY 28, CIRCLE TO RWY 33L. AFTER LNDG, I WAS ASKED TO CALL THE TWR. THE TWR ASKED WHY I LANDED ON THE WRONG RWY. I RESPONDED THAT I UNDERSTOOD 33L, ALTHOUGH ORIGINALLY I WAS CLRED TO 33R. I EXPLAINED THAT WHILE IT WAS DIFFICULT TO HEAR THE TWR, I COULD SWEAR HE SAID 33L, AND I ACKNOWLEDGED. I EXPLAINED THAT I COULD HAVE EASILY LANDED ON 33R, IF THAT'S WHAT I WAS CLRED TO DO. THE TWR THEN ASKED ME TO GET MY RADIOS FIXED. IN RETROSPECT, I SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR A CLARIFICATION OF THE RWY. I THOUGHT I WAS CLRED FOR 33L BECAUSE OF THE RADIO FAILURE. UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, I THOUGHT I HANDLED THE SITUATION IN A SAFE AND PROFICIENT MANNER, IN SPITE OF BEING IN IMC WITH NO COM.

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.