Reporter misunderstood traffic control instructions and lined up with the wrong runway.

Attributes
ACN	319220
Time
Date	199510
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cxy
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : cxy
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	319220
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I approached cxy from southwest, got ATIS indicating runways 30 and 26 in use. Contacted approach who told me to report downwind for runway 30. Was turned over to control tower who gave me instruction to report 4 mi final which I assumed was meant for runway 30. As I continued the unusual course, I contacted tower to give position and was told I was approaching wrong runway, should have been runway 8, was given a turn and proceeded to runway 12. I had misunderstood instruction and had runway 30 imprinted on my mind.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR MISUNDERSTOOD TFC CTL INSTRUCTIONS AND LINED UP WITH THE WRONG RWY.

Narrative: I APCHED CXY FROM SW, GOT ATIS INDICATING RWYS 30 AND 26 IN USE. CONTACTED APCH WHO TOLD ME TO RPT DOWNWIND FOR RWY 30. WAS TURNED OVER TO CTL TWR WHO GAVE ME INSTRUCTION TO RPT 4 MI FINAL WHICH I ASSUMED WAS MEANT FOR RWY 30. AS I CONTINUED THE UNUSUAL COURSE, I CONTACTED TWR TO GIVE POS AND WAS TOLD I WAS APCHING WRONG RWY, SHOULD HAVE BEEN RWY 8, WAS GIVEN A TURN AND PROCEEDED TO RWY 12. I HAD MISUNDERSTOOD INSTRUCTION AND HAD RWY 30 IMPRINTED ON MY MIND.

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.