Student pilot makes approach to wrong runway. ATCT local controller catches pilot error.

Attributes
ACN	337980
Time
Date	199606
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dsm
State Reference	IA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dsm tower : yyz
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 36 flight time total : 52 flight time type : 52
ASRS Report	337980
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on approach to dsm I was cleared by the tower to land on runway 31R. I had been to dsm once before and had been told to land on runway 13R, which is the 3202 ft runway. I thought C150 and other similar small aircraft always were to land on the short runway. At about 1/4 mi away on final, I was asked by the tower if I wanted runway 31R to which I replied yes, and was then informed I was on final for runway 31L. I asked if I was cleared for runway 31L at that time or should I go around and the tower responded that it was ok and I was cleared for runway 31L so I landed and taxied to my destination. I understand my error in judgement and will not make it again and while the controller was very helpful I thought perhaps I could have been informed possibly a little sooner on final or maybe when I was turning from base in order to give me more time if I was to have to divert or go around.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: STUDENT PLT MAKES APCH TO WRONG RWY. ATCT LCL CTLR CATCHES PLT ERROR.

Narrative: WHILE ON APCH TO DSM I WAS CLRED BY THE TWR TO LAND ON RWY 31R. I HAD BEEN TO DSM ONCE BEFORE AND HAD BEEN TOLD TO LAND ON RWY 13R, WHICH IS THE 3202 FT RWY. I THOUGHT C150 AND OTHER SIMILAR SMALL ACFT ALWAYS WERE TO LAND ON THE SHORT RWY. AT ABOUT 1/4 MI AWAY ON FINAL, I WAS ASKED BY THE TWR IF I WANTED RWY 31R TO WHICH I REPLIED YES, AND WAS THEN INFORMED I WAS ON FINAL FOR RWY 31L. I ASKED IF I WAS CLRED FOR RWY 31L AT THAT TIME OR SHOULD I GAR AND THE TWR RESPONDED THAT IT WAS OK AND I WAS CLRED FOR RWY 31L SO I LANDED AND TAXIED TO MY DEST. I UNDERSTAND MY ERROR IN JUDGEMENT AND WILL NOT MAKE IT AGAIN AND WHILE THE CTLR WAS VERY HELPFUL I THOUGHT PERHAPS I COULD HAVE BEEN INFORMED POSSIBLY A LITTLE SOONER ON FINAL OR MAYBE WHEN I WAS TURNING FROM BASE IN ORDER TO GIVE ME MORE TIME IF I WAS TO HAVE TO DIVERT OR GAR.

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.