DHC8-102 aircraft on visual approach, flight crew forgot to contact tower for landing clearance.

Attributes
ACN	369110
Time
Date	199705
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : msp
State Reference	MN
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : rjtg
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport, High Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	landing other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 3300 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	369110
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	incursion : landing without clearance non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were cleared for the visual approach to runway 29L, and warned of traffic 3 mi ahead, on a 1/2 mi final for our runway. Then they told us to contact the tower. At the time I was putting tower frequency into standby, the captain called for 'gear down, propellers 1050,' then 'flaps 15 degrees, final check.' I did the final check, forgot about tower and heard no more things from approach. We both thought we were cleared to land because I accidentally hit the taxi light 'on' thus signalling us we were cleared to land. When we landed, without any incident or even close to an incident, we taxied clear of runway 29L and asked what we thought was tower if they wanted us on ground. Approach controller they told us to go to ground, and no further comments were heard. I feel the factors that contributed to this error were: 1) second to last leg of a 14 hour day. 2) 6 of 7 long legs of a day. 3) PF calling for gear down, when PNF needed to communicate. 4) moderate LLWS below 3000 ft AGL. 5) PNF turning on taxi light.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DHC8-102 ACFT ON VISUAL APCH, FLC FORGOT TO CONTACT TWR FOR LNDG CLRNC.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED FOR THE VISUAL APCH TO RWY 29L, AND WARNED OF TFC 3 MI AHEAD, ON A 1/2 MI FINAL FOR OUR RWY. THEN THEY TOLD US TO CONTACT THE TWR. AT THE TIME I WAS PUTTING TWR FREQ INTO STANDBY, THE CAPT CALLED FOR 'GEAR DOWN, PROPS 1050,' THEN 'FLAPS 15 DEGS, FINAL CHK.' I DID THE FINAL CHK, FORGOT ABOUT TWR AND HEARD NO MORE THINGS FROM APCH. WE BOTH THOUGHT WE WERE CLRED TO LAND BECAUSE I ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE TAXI LIGHT 'ON' THUS SIGNALLING US WE WERE CLRED TO LAND. WHEN WE LANDED, WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT OR EVEN CLOSE TO AN INCIDENT, WE TAXIED CLR OF RWY 29L AND ASKED WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS TWR IF THEY WANTED US ON GND. APCH CTLR THEY TOLD US TO GO TO GND, AND NO FURTHER COMMENTS WERE HEARD. I FEEL THE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ERROR WERE: 1) SECOND TO LAST LEG OF A 14 HR DAY. 2) 6 OF 7 LONG LEGS OF A DAY. 3) PF CALLING FOR GEAR DOWN, WHEN PNF NEEDED TO COMMUNICATE. 4) MODERATE LLWS BELOW 3000 FT AGL. 5) PNF TURNING ON TAXI LIGHT.

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.