An small aircraft being flown by 2 low time pilots lands on a closed runway at hnl, hi.

Attributes
ACN	382300
Time
Date	199710
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hnl
State Reference	HI
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	landing other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 50 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	382300
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 50 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	382323
Events
Anomaly	incursion : landing without clearance non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We received the information that runway 4R (hnl) is closed by listening to ATIS 30 NM out of the airport. Coming in along the highway, we received the clearance to land on runway 4L from the tower very soon. We were told to stay at 2000 ft and enter the downwind at 2000 ft. When I turned into downwind I could only see runway 4R ahead of me on the left side. Runway 4L is the shorter one and was already behind me. I fixed the touchdown point on the only runway I could see and this was the closed one. Descending from 2000 ft took all my concentration (for a beginner), and it was my first landing in hnl. The cross that marked the runway 4R as closed could not be seen from far out (final). Just before touchdown I recognized the yellow stripes at the beginning of the runway. In my opinion it could have been avoided if the tower would have known that we are unfamiliar with the airport and he would have told us again (on downwind) that runway 4R is closed and we are cleared for runway 4L. I really apologize for this mistake. I'm sure this will never happen again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA BEING FLOWN BY 2 LOW TIME PLTS LANDS ON A CLOSED RWY AT HNL, HI.

Narrative: WE RECEIVED THE INFO THAT RWY 4R (HNL) IS CLOSED BY LISTENING TO ATIS 30 NM OUT OF THE ARPT. COMING IN ALONG THE HWY, WE RECEIVED THE CLRNC TO LAND ON RWY 4L FROM THE TWR VERY SOON. WE WERE TOLD TO STAY AT 2000 FT AND ENTER THE DOWNWIND AT 2000 FT. WHEN I TURNED INTO DOWNWIND I COULD ONLY SEE RWY 4R AHEAD OF ME ON THE L SIDE. RWY 4L IS THE SHORTER ONE AND WAS ALREADY BEHIND ME. I FIXED THE TOUCHDOWN POINT ON THE ONLY RWY I COULD SEE AND THIS WAS THE CLOSED ONE. DSNDING FROM 2000 FT TOOK ALL MY CONCENTRATION (FOR A BEGINNER), AND IT WAS MY FIRST LNDG IN HNL. THE CROSS THAT MARKED THE RWY 4R AS CLOSED COULD NOT BE SEEN FROM FAR OUT (FINAL). JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN I RECOGNIZED THE YELLOW STRIPES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RWY. IN MY OPINION IT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE TWR WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT WE ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE ARPT AND HE WOULD HAVE TOLD US AGAIN (ON DOWNWIND) THAT RWY 4R IS CLOSED AND WE ARE CLRED FOR RWY 4L. I REALLY APOLOGIZE FOR THIS MISTAKE. I'M SURE THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

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.