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.

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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.