A C172 pilot landed on the taxiway instead of on the runway.

Attributes
ACN	529040
Time
Date	200111
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : laf.airport
State Reference	IN
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	landing : roll
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 370 flight time type : 220
ASRS Report	529040
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	incursion : taxiway non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew faa : investigated
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Problem landing on taxiway for 5-23 runways at laf. Cleared by tower for landing on runway 5. Misguided plane to taxiway for runway 5 and landed. My country landing strip that I normally use is 35 ft by 21000 ft. When confronted with the asphalt taxiway (probably 3000 ft long) it looked perfect for landing. I overlooked runway 5 and landed on the taxiway. (It looked like the best thing I had seen for awhile.) I saw no traffic conflicts, fortunately, but was asked to call the tower. That's when I learned what I had done wrong. (Controller did say I did a nice job keeping plane centered.) anyway she said she would send in a report. All I can suggest is that in the future, I'd better be looking for a runway number marking. That is a giveaway and I will pay attention in future.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 PLT LANDED ON THE TXWY INSTEAD OF ON THE RWY.

Narrative: PROB LNDG ON TXWY FOR 5-23 RWYS AT LAF. CLRED BY TWR FOR LANDING ON RWY 5. MISGUIDED PLANE TO TXWY FOR RWY 5 AND LANDED. MY COUNTRY LNDG STRIP THAT I NORMALLY USE IS 35 FT BY 21000 FT. WHEN CONFRONTED WITH THE ASPHALT TXWY (PROBABLY 3000 FT LONG) IT LOOKED PERFECT FOR LANDING. I OVERLOOKED RWY 5 AND LANDED ON THE TXWY. (IT LOOKED LIKE THE BEST THING I HAD SEEN FOR AWHILE.) I SAW NO TFC CONFLICTS, FORTUNATELY, BUT WAS ASKED TO CALL THE TWR. THAT'S WHEN I LEARNED WHAT I HAD DONE WRONG. (CTLR DID SAY I DID A NICE JOB KEEPING PLANE CENTERED.) ANYWAY SHE SAID SHE WOULD SEND IN A RPT. ALL I CAN SUGGEST IS THAT IN THE FUTURE, I'D BETTER BE LOOKING FOR A RWY NUMBER MARKING. THAT IS A GIVEAWAY AND I WILL PAY ATTENTION IN FUTURE.

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.