Small aircraft pilot drifts left of approach course to runway, lands on taxiway.

Attributes
ACN	336146
Time
Date	199605
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : crp
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : crp
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	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	336146
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was #3 on approach to runway 13 at crp. There were several students in the traffic pattern plus other aircraft. I was unable to see (locate) the 2 aircraft ahead of me. I perhaps looked longer than usual and was blown to the left of course. (Winds were 25-30 KTS at gusts to 35 KTS). I was near the long taxiway parallel to runway 13. The taxiway was clear and the approachs to it were clear. I elected to land on it thinking it would be least disruptive. I was reluctant to return to the runway because of not knowing where the aircraft behind me was. Going around was the proper option. Yet I was cognizant that what I did was a safe procedure. I was told to call the tower. The tower officer was polite, courteous and professional. It was admitted that the crosswind and students flying were a problem. The tower officer mainly wanted to be sure that I knew what I had done.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT DRIFTS L OF APCH COURSE TO RWY, LANDS ON TXWY.

Narrative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

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.