Private pilot of an small aircraft sel turned final to the wrong runway resulting in the tower's int...

Attributes
ACN	296266
Time
Date	199502
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pdk
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 500 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pdk
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : go around
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 75 flight time type : 8
ASRS Report	296266
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Tower controller instructed me to enter left downwind for runway 34. I complied. However, I made turns to base and final for runway 2R. The airport has 4 runways, with both parallel and intersecting configns. Runway 2R has particularly poor numbers painted on the threshold. They are dirty and hard to distinguish against the light gray asphalt. On final, I realized my mistake when the numbers came into view and notified the controller. Controller called for go around with left turn. I complied and made a successful approach and landing on runway 34. Corrective action: repaint all runway numbers at pdk airport. Repaint backgnd of numbers a darker color for better contrast against the white runway numbers.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT OF AN SMA SEL TURNED FINAL TO THE WRONG RWY RESULTING IN THE TWR'S INTERVENTION.

Narrative: TWR CTLR INSTRUCTED ME TO ENTER L DOWNWIND FOR RWY 34. I COMPLIED. HOWEVER, I MADE TURNS TO BASE AND FINAL FOR RWY 2R. THE ARPT HAS 4 RWYS, WITH BOTH PARALLEL AND INTERSECTING CONFIGNS. RWY 2R HAS PARTICULARLY POOR NUMBERS PAINTED ON THE THRESHOLD. THEY ARE DIRTY AND HARD TO DISTINGUISH AGAINST THE LIGHT GRAY ASPHALT. ON FINAL, I REALIZED MY MISTAKE WHEN THE NUMBERS CAME INTO VIEW AND NOTIFIED THE CTLR. CTLR CALLED FOR GAR WITH L TURN. I COMPLIED AND MADE A SUCCESSFUL APCH AND LNDG ON RWY 34. CORRECTIVE ACTION: REPAINT ALL RWY NUMBERS AT PDK ARPT. REPAINT BACKGND OF NUMBERS A DARKER COLOR FOR BETTER CONTRAST AGAINST THE WHITE RWY NUMBERS.

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.

Private pilot of an small aircraft sel turned final to the wrong runway resulting in the tower's intervention.