A student pilot on his first 50 mi cross country, landed at the wrong airport.

Attributes
ACN	555458
Time
Date	200207
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : spa.vortac
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl single value : 45000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : gsp.tracon tower : gsp.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 152
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : roll
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 28.7 flight time total : 72.1 flight time type : 72.1
ASRS Report	555458
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on my first 50 mi cross country solo. I received flight following from ipj, nc, to spa, sc. The flight following terminated my flight following and announced I was 5 mi away from spa at 11 O'clock position. In reality, the airport was at 10 O'clock position. I failed to scan the entire area. I looked at 11 O'clock position and saw the airport at gsp. I was making my calls to spa to enter a left downwind for runway 23. I crossed over highway 85 in the downwind and I realized I was at the wrong airport. I was unsure about whether I should abort or land. I thought it would be safer to land. I landed and called the tower to identify myself, and inform them I had landed at the wrong airport. I was told to taxi to FBO and to call the tower once I arrived at FBO. I called the tower again and spoke with the manager to whom I gave my information. The manager told me I could leave, but he needed to speak with my instructor today. I called my instructor and informed him of the situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A STUDENT PLT ON HIS FIRST 50 MI XCOUNTRY, LANDED AT THE WRONG ARPT.

Narrative: I WAS ON MY FIRST 50 MI XCOUNTRY SOLO. I RECEIVED FLT FOLLOWING FROM IPJ, NC, TO SPA, SC. THE FLT FOLLOWING TERMINATED MY FLT FOLLOWING AND ANNOUNCED I WAS 5 MI AWAY FROM SPA AT 11 O'CLOCK POS. IN REALITY, THE ARPT WAS AT 10 O'CLOCK POS. I FAILED TO SCAN THE ENTIRE AREA. I LOOKED AT 11 O'CLOCK POS AND SAW THE ARPT AT GSP. I WAS MAKING MY CALLS TO SPA TO ENTER A L DOWNWIND FOR RWY 23. I CROSSED OVER HWY 85 IN THE DOWNWIND AND I REALIZED I WAS AT THE WRONG ARPT. I WAS UNSURE ABOUT WHETHER I SHOULD ABORT OR LAND. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SAFER TO LAND. I LANDED AND CALLED THE TWR TO IDENT MYSELF, AND INFORM THEM I HAD LANDED AT THE WRONG ARPT. I WAS TOLD TO TAXI TO FBO AND TO CALL THE TWR ONCE I ARRIVED AT FBO. I CALLED THE TWR AGAIN AND SPOKE WITH THE MGR TO WHOM I GAVE MY INFO. THE MGR TOLD ME I COULD LEAVE, BUT HE NEEDED TO SPEAK WITH MY INSTRUCTOR TODAY. I CALLED MY INSTRUCTOR AND INFORMED HIM OF THE SIT.

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.