Wrong runway approach by small transport pilot.

Attributes
ACN	232631
Time
Date	199301
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lgb
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lgb
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 2475 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	232631
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed las vegas (L15) on IFR flight plan to long beach, ca. Flight was routine except for santa ana winds and turbulence over the mountains. Long beach was using the NDB runway 30. I was having problems with the needle, as it would stick. However, it was clear and we had radar vectors to final. Approach told us to expect runway 25. When turned over to tower, they gave us several close targets to look for, assigned us runway 7R. While still distracted by the ADF needle, looking for the slower traffic, I inadvertently lined up with runway 34R. On final, tower asked us our intentions (a clue), I said turning final for runway 7R. After a short time, tower informed me I was aligned with runway 34R, called some helicopter traffic at 12 O'clock, which I saw and then realized my error. After calling another aircraft to my attention (no factor) cleared me for a left downwind to runway 7R. No further mention was made of my error. Corrective action was to put full attention to the landing phase. A simple xchk of the heading indicator would have avoided this. I simply visually saw a runway and assumed it was the correct one.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WRONG RWY APCH BY SMT PLT.

Narrative: DEPARTED LAS VEGAS (L15) ON IFR FLT PLAN TO LONG BEACH, CA. FLT WAS ROUTINE EXCEPT FOR SANTA ANA WINDS AND TURB OVER THE MOUNTAINS. LONG BEACH WAS USING THE NDB RWY 30. I WAS HAVING PROBS WITH THE NEEDLE, AS IT WOULD STICK. HOWEVER, IT WAS CLR AND WE HAD RADAR VECTORS TO FINAL. APCH TOLD US TO EXPECT RWY 25. WHEN TURNED OVER TO TWR, THEY GAVE US SEVERAL CLOSE TARGETS TO LOOK FOR, ASSIGNED US RWY 7R. WHILE STILL DISTRACTED BY THE ADF NEEDLE, LOOKING FOR THE SLOWER TFC, I INADVERTENTLY LINED UP WITH RWY 34R. ON FINAL, TWR ASKED US OUR INTENTIONS (A CLUE), I SAID TURNING FINAL FOR RWY 7R. AFTER A SHORT TIME, TWR INFORMED ME I WAS ALIGNED WITH RWY 34R, CALLED SOME HELI TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK, WHICH I SAW AND THEN REALIZED MY ERROR. AFTER CALLING ANOTHER ACFT TO MY ATTN (NO FACTOR) CLRED ME FOR A L DOWNWIND TO RWY 7R. NO FURTHER MENTION WAS MADE OF MY ERROR. CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TO PUT FULL ATTN TO THE LNDG PHASE. A SIMPLE XCHK OF THE HDG INDICATOR WOULD HAVE AVOIDED THIS. I SIMPLY VISUALLY SAW A RWY AND ASSUMED IT WAS THE CORRECT ONE.

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.