Narrative:

Departed ZZZ XA30 aug/xa/97 on IFR flight plan. Canceled IFR at approximately XB35 local, aug/xa/97 within 40 NM of XXX airport. Called XXX on CTAF, no response on pilot controled lighting. Following second call, response from airport maintenance (idented self) that airport is closed until XG00 local. As we (our company, an air ambulance service) had on at least 1 occasion before, been authority/authorized to land on txwys, I related this authority/authorized, adding that I was an ambulance, using lifeguard call sign. (I had, on board, a neo-natalogy transport team with a transport isolette incubator. The team's purpose is to go to the hospital, and in this case, stabilize the 2-DAY old, 4 week premie in order to transport her for specialized care). As it would mean a ground ambulance drive in excess of 50 mins if they'd be required to meet the plane at the nearest alternate, I again stated that it would be necessary to land at airport. Asked if I could land on the south 4000 ft and turn off at taxiway X. I replied that I could. On downwind (left traffic) abeam midfield, I observed the runway lights come on (4000 ft of runway 35). Made normal landing. Ground ambulance was waiting XB48 local. Neo-nat team required approximately 1 hour 15 mins at hospital to stabilize and prep patient. Ground transport approximately 25 mins each way. Departed XXX at XC54 local aug/xa/97. No delays at any time. Ground personnel courteous and helpful. I could have avoided the 'closed airport' surprise had I done the simple task of checking NOTAMS, but became frustrated by being put on hold when calling FSS and also having duat disconnect 4 times for unexplained reason.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C414A LIFEGUARD FLT ARRIVED AT DEST ARPT TO FIND IT CLOSED UNTIL 5 HRS LATER. RPTR PLT WAS ABLE TO COM WITH UNICOM AND COORDINATED TO GET PARTIAL RWY LIGHTING, LANDED AND DEPARTED WITH SUCCESSFUL EMS MISSION.

Narrative: DEPARTED ZZZ XA30 AUG/XA/97 ON IFR FLT PLAN. CANCELED IFR AT APPROX XB35 LCL, AUG/XA/97 WITHIN 40 NM OF XXX ARPT. CALLED XXX ON CTAF, NO RESPONSE ON PLT CTLED LIGHTING. FOLLOWING SECOND CALL, RESPONSE FROM ARPT MAINT (IDENTED SELF) THAT ARPT IS CLOSED UNTIL XG00 LCL. AS WE (OUR COMPANY, AN AIR AMBULANCE SVC) HAD ON AT LEAST 1 OCCASION BEFORE, BEEN AUTH TO LAND ON TXWYS, I RELATED THIS AUTH, ADDING THAT I WAS AN AMBULANCE, USING LIFEGUARD CALL SIGN. (I HAD, ON BOARD, A NEO-NATALOGY TRANSPORT TEAM WITH A TRANSPORT ISOLETTE INCUBATOR. THE TEAM'S PURPOSE IS TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL, AND IN THIS CASE, STABILIZE THE 2-DAY OLD, 4 WK PREMIE IN ORDER TO TRANSPORT HER FOR SPECIALIZED CARE). AS IT WOULD MEAN A GND AMBULANCE DRIVE IN EXCESS OF 50 MINS IF THEY'D BE REQUIRED TO MEET THE PLANE AT THE NEAREST ALTERNATE, I AGAIN STATED THAT IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO LAND AT ARPT. ASKED IF I COULD LAND ON THE S 4000 FT AND TURN OFF AT TXWY X. I REPLIED THAT I COULD. ON DOWNWIND (L TFC) ABEAM MIDFIELD, I OBSERVED THE RWY LIGHTS COME ON (4000 FT OF RWY 35). MADE NORMAL LNDG. GND AMBULANCE WAS WAITING XB48 LCL. NEO-NAT TEAM REQUIRED APPROX 1 HR 15 MINS AT HOSPITAL TO STABILIZE AND PREP PATIENT. GND TRANSPORT APPROX 25 MINS EACH WAY. DEPARTED XXX AT XC54 LCL AUG/XA/97. NO DELAYS AT ANY TIME. GND PERSONNEL COURTEOUS AND HELPFUL. I COULD HAVE AVOIDED THE 'CLOSED ARPT' SURPRISE HAD I DONE THE SIMPLE TASK OF CHKING NOTAMS, BUT BECAME FRUSTRATED BY BEING PUT ON HOLD WHEN CALLING FSS AND ALSO HAVING DUAT DISCONNECT 4 TIMES FOR UNEXPLAINED REASON.

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.