Small aircraft is disoriented and enters base leg at wrong airport. Controller catches mistake.

Attributes
ACN	224153
Time
Date	199210
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : crg
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : crg
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	landing other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Experience	controller military : 4 controller non radar : 3 controller radar : 1
ASRS Report	224153
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other anomaly other
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:

I was working local control at craig tower when small aircraft X called 6 south inbound to land. I advised small aircraft X to enter and report 2 mi right base runway 5. Within 3 mins small aircraft X reported on the right base. I did not observe small aircraft X on the base, and after further visual scanning I realized the aircraft was disoriented and had the wrong airport in sight. I then observed the aircraft on right base for runway 5 at mayport NAS, which is 5 NM northeast of craig airport. Though the aircraft was not in any serious danger this episode happens all too often and could one day cause a problem. My suggestion is to install a BRITE radar scope in craig tower. There is such a unit available but is in limbo for no apparent reason. The installation of such unit would greatly aid controllers in their duties and compliment safety as well.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA IS DISORIENTED AND ENTERS BASE LEG AT WRONG ARPT. CTLR CATCHES MISTAKE.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING LCL CTL AT CRAIG TWR WHEN SMA X CALLED 6 S INBOUND TO LAND. I ADVISED SMA X TO ENTER AND RPT 2 MI R BASE RWY 5. WITHIN 3 MINS SMA X RPTED ON THE R BASE. I DID NOT OBSERVE SMA X ON THE BASE, AND AFTER FURTHER VISUAL SCANNING I REALIZED THE ACFT WAS DISORIENTED AND HAD THE WRONG ARPT IN SIGHT. I THEN OBSERVED THE ACFT ON R BASE FOR RWY 5 AT MAYPORT NAS, WHICH IS 5 NM NE OF CRAIG ARPT. THOUGH THE ACFT WAS NOT IN ANY SERIOUS DANGER THIS EPISODE HAPPENS ALL TOO OFTEN AND COULD ONE DAY CAUSE A PROBLEM. MY SUGGESTION IS TO INSTALL A BRITE RADAR SCOPE IN CRAIG TWR. THERE IS SUCH A UNIT AVAILABLE BUT IS IN LIMBO FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE INSTALLATION OF SUCH UNIT WOULD GREATLY AID CTLRS IN THEIR DUTIES AND COMPLIMENT SAFETY AS WELL.

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.