Small aircraft on training flight makes downwind for wrong runway.

Attributes
ACN	303616
Time
Date	199504
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phx
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2100 msl bound upper : 2100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : phx
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 350 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	303616
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I took off 2 hours earlier from runway 8L. I am new to current aircraft, also new to class B environment. Upon return from solo training flight, I properly copied from ATIS correct runway 27R in use, but fixed in my mind the same runway I had earlier departed (runway 8L) which had changed during my training flight. So, upon approaching field from the north, when the tower said make right traffic runway 26R, I questioned the tower, 'left, you mean,' to which the tower replied 'whatever gets you there.' I erroneously turned west (right), thinking runway 8L was in use. I should have turned east, downwind for runway 26R. After a quiet min, the tower told me I was headed the wrong direction, as runway 26R was in use. They instructed me to turn around and to east (right downwind runway 26R) which I did. I then followed ATC's instruction and landed without further issue.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ON TRAINING FLT MAKES DOWNWIND FOR WRONG RWY.

Narrative: I TOOK OFF 2 HRS EARLIER FROM RWY 8L. I AM NEW TO CURRENT ACFT, ALSO NEW TO CLASS B ENVIRONMENT. UPON RETURN FROM SOLO TRAINING FLT, I PROPERLY COPIED FROM ATIS CORRECT RWY 27R IN USE, BUT FIXED IN MY MIND THE SAME RWY I HAD EARLIER DEPARTED (RWY 8L) WHICH HAD CHANGED DURING MY TRAINING FLT. SO, UPON APCHING FIELD FROM THE N, WHEN THE TWR SAID MAKE R TFC RWY 26R, I QUESTIONED THE TWR, 'L, YOU MEAN,' TO WHICH THE TWR REPLIED 'WHATEVER GETS YOU THERE.' I ERRONEOUSLY TURNED W (R), THINKING RWY 8L WAS IN USE. I SHOULD HAVE TURNED E, DOWNWIND FOR RWY 26R. AFTER A QUIET MIN, THE TWR TOLD ME I WAS HEADED THE WRONG DIRECTION, AS RWY 26R WAS IN USE. THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO TURN AROUND AND TO E (R DOWNWIND RWY 26R) WHICH I DID. I THEN FOLLOWED ATC'S INSTRUCTION AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER ISSUE.

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.