Unauthorized landing on ramp instead of runway.

Attributes
ACN	238510
Time
Date	199304
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 0q3
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bna
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	238510
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
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
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I had 2 instrument students aboard in an small aircraft. One of the students had been practicing VOR tracking with course reversals for about 30 mins at sgd VOR. I broke off the exercise to proceed to sonoma skypark for landing with intention to change student pilots. We had no sooner left the VOR when the student passenger expressed a pressing need for the bathroom. At age 69 I am very much aware of how pressing this need can become. I immediately diverted to sonoma valley. It had been raining in our area the night before and I was uncertain as to the condition of the dirt/gravel runway 27/9 so I opted for what I knew as runway 34, a paved strip. Because of my sense of urgency by what I considered a potential cockpit catastrophe I executed a power off short approach to what I had known for yrs to be runway 34. The runway was not runway 34 but a ramp I do not know how recent the change but because of my passenger physical needs I chose to land. I used less than 1/2 of the existing runway, executed a 180 degree turn and deplaned my passenger. When he returned to the aircraft we departed via runway 9 which I determined to be damp but suitable.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTH LNDG ON RAMP INSTEAD OF RWY.

Narrative: I HAD 2 INST STUDENTS ABOARD IN AN SMA. ONE OF THE STUDENTS HAD BEEN PRACTICING VOR TRACKING WITH COURSE REVERSALS FOR ABOUT 30 MINS AT SGD VOR. I BROKE OFF THE EXERCISE TO PROCEED TO SONOMA SKYPARK FOR LNDG WITH INTENTION TO CHANGE STUDENT PLTS. WE HAD NO SOONER LEFT THE VOR WHEN THE STUDENT PAX EXPRESSED A PRESSING NEED FOR THE BATHROOM. AT AGE 69 I AM VERY MUCH AWARE OF HOW PRESSING THIS NEED CAN BECOME. I IMMEDIATELY DIVERTED TO SONOMA VALLEY. IT HAD BEEN RAINING IN OUR AREA THE NIGHT BEFORE AND I WAS UNCERTAIN AS TO THE CONDITION OF THE DIRT/GRAVEL RWY 27/9 SO I OPTED FOR WHAT I KNEW AS RWY 34, A PAVED STRIP. BECAUSE OF MY SENSE OF URGENCY BY WHAT I CONSIDERED A POTENTIAL COCKPIT CATASTROPHE I EXECUTED A PWR OFF SHORT APCH TO WHAT I HAD KNOWN FOR YRS TO BE RWY 34. THE RWY WAS NOT RWY 34 BUT A RAMP I DO NOT KNOW HOW RECENT THE CHANGE BUT BECAUSE OF MY PAX PHYSICAL NEEDS I CHOSE TO LAND. I USED LESS THAN 1/2 OF THE EXISTING RWY, EXECUTED A 180 DEG TURN AND DEPLANED MY PAX. WHEN HE RETURNED TO THE ACFT WE DEPARTED VIA RWY 9 WHICH I DETERMINED TO BE DAMP BUT SUITABLE.

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.