Narrative:

Getting vectors for the visual into gtr, an uncontrolled field. Got field in sight about 2 mi southwest. I suggested to captain that we make a left turn to enter the pattern. I was thinking of runway 36, captain was planning runway 18. Traffic was taxiing out for runway 36. By the time I realized the confusion, we were over the field at pattern altitude, headed northeast. From that position, we made a right pattern to land runway 36, rather than making a left turn. I think that we stayed more out of harm's way doing the right pattern. In addition to the confusion over runways, we had to contend with being at pattern altitude. It would have been easier to enter the proper (left) traffic pattern if approach had vectored us at a higher altitude or if they had vectored us straight in.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF AN EMBRAER EMB120 MADE A R-HAND, INSTEAD OF A L-HAND TFC PATTERN TO LAND AT AN UNCTLED ARPT AFTER ATC VECTOR TO THE ARPT.

Narrative: GETTING VECTORS FOR THE VISUAL INTO GTR, AN UNCTLED FIELD. GOT FIELD IN SIGHT ABOUT 2 MI SW. I SUGGESTED TO CAPT THAT WE MAKE A L TURN TO ENTER THE PATTERN. I WAS THINKING OF RWY 36, CAPT WAS PLANNING RWY 18. TFC WAS TAXIING OUT FOR RWY 36. BY THE TIME I REALIZED THE CONFUSION, WE WERE OVER THE FIELD AT PATTERN ALT, HEADED NE. FROM THAT POS, WE MADE A R PATTERN TO LAND RWY 36, RATHER THAN MAKING A L TURN. I THINK THAT WE STAYED MORE OUT OF HARM'S WAY DOING THE R PATTERN. IN ADDITION TO THE CONFUSION OVER RWYS, WE HAD TO CONTEND WITH BEING AT PATTERN ALT. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER TO ENTER THE PROPER (L) TFC PATTERN IF APCH HAD VECTORED US AT A HIGHER ALT OR IF THEY HAD VECTORED US STRAIGHT IN.

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.