Small aircraft lands at major airport within TCA without clearance or contact of any kind.

Attributes
ACN	238421
Time
Date	199304
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ord
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 1700
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord tower : ord
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 55 flight time type : 55
ASRS Report	238421
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 120 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	238136
Events
Anomaly	incursion : landing without clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was navigating for the pilot. We were north of meigs field, northbound along the shore of lake michigan. Our intention was to land at pal-waukee and trade roles (pilot/copilot). We didn't want to transition the TCA so I gave the pilot directions using a TCA chart. My directions were as follows: fly north along the coast, intercept and fly inbound on the 115 degree radial to north brook VORTAC, at 15 DME, turn left heading 240 degrees, when airport is in sight, call legs on CTAF and land on runway 16. I made the mistake by using a scale that measures NM on a sectional chart rather than the appropriate scale. Using the correct scale the directions should read to say 'at 7 DME, turn left heading 240 degrees.' the intended course when plotted on the chart leads to pal- waukee. The course given (measured with the wrong scale) leads to chicago O'hare international. Unaware of our actual location, we landed the aircraft. I realized my mistake while on the ground by noticing airlines, a number of heavy jets and (when we took off) the runway marked runway 14L. After taxiing to the run-up pad, we traded roles (I was now pilot). I took off runway 14L and departed (making left traffic) to the north.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA LANDS AT MAJOR ARPT WITHIN TCA WITHOUT CLRNC OR CONTACT OF ANY KIND.

Narrative: I WAS NAVING FOR THE PLT. WE WERE N OF MEIGS FIELD, NBOUND ALONG THE SHORE OF LAKE MICHIGAN. OUR INTENTION WAS TO LAND AT PAL-WAUKEE AND TRADE ROLES (PLT/COPLT). WE DIDN'T WANT TO TRANSITION THE TCA SO I GAVE THE PLT DIRECTIONS USING A TCA CHART. MY DIRECTIONS WERE AS FOLLOWS: FLY N ALONG THE COAST, INTERCEPT AND FLY INBOUND ON THE 115 DEG RADIAL TO N BROOK VORTAC, AT 15 DME, TURN L HDG 240 DEGS, WHEN ARPT IS IN SIGHT, CALL LEGS ON CTAF AND LAND ON RWY 16. I MADE THE MISTAKE BY USING A SCALE THAT MEASURES NM ON A SECTIONAL CHART RATHER THAN THE APPROPRIATE SCALE. USING THE CORRECT SCALE THE DIRECTIONS SHOULD READ TO SAY 'AT 7 DME, TURN L HDG 240 DEGS.' THE INTENDED COURSE WHEN PLOTTED ON THE CHART LEADS TO PAL- WAUKEE. THE COURSE GIVEN (MEASURED WITH THE WRONG SCALE) LEADS TO CHICAGO O'HARE INTL. UNAWARE OF OUR ACTUAL LOCATION, WE LANDED THE ACFT. I REALIZED MY MISTAKE WHILE ON THE GND BY NOTICING AIRLINES, A NUMBER OF HVY JETS AND (WHEN WE TOOK OFF) THE RWY MARKED RWY 14L. AFTER TAXIING TO THE RUN-UP PAD, WE TRADED ROLES (I WAS NOW PLT). I TOOK OFF RWY 14L AND DEPARTED (MAKING L TFC) TO THE N.

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.