C177RG pilot fixates on the VASI and lands on parallel taxiway.

Attributes
ACN	615851
Time
Date	200403
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	other
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cardinal 177/177RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : roll
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : vfr
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 602 flight time type : 476
ASRS Report	615851
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	incursion : taxiway non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
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:

The VFR flight into ZZZ was hazy though VFR (visibility 5 mi). Upon approach, I was overly concerned regarding GS and fixated on the VASI. I ignored the VASI location -- right versus left side -- and simply followed it down to the parallel taxiway. Upon landing, tower asked, following my contact with ground, whether I realized I'd landed on a taxiway. I replied 'I do now.' I've attempted to determine the factors causing the error. I feel that the first is 'fixation' -- the error of allowing a single input, ie, the VASI to dominate my attention. Fatigue may have been a contributing factor, but I'd put it far below the aforementioned.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C177RG PLT FIXATES ON THE VASI AND LANDS ON PARALLEL TXWY.

Narrative: THE VFR FLT INTO ZZZ WAS HAZY THOUGH VFR (VISIBILITY 5 MI). UPON APCH, I WAS OVERLY CONCERNED REGARDING GS AND FIXATED ON THE VASI. I IGNORED THE VASI LOCATION -- R VERSUS L SIDE -- AND SIMPLY FOLLOWED IT DOWN TO THE PARALLEL TXWY. UPON LNDG, TWR ASKED, FOLLOWING MY CONTACT WITH GND, WHETHER I REALIZED I'D LANDED ON A TXWY. I REPLIED 'I DO NOW.' I'VE ATTEMPTED TO DETERMINE THE FACTORS CAUSING THE ERROR. I FEEL THAT THE FIRST IS 'FIXATION' -- THE ERROR OF ALLOWING A SINGLE INPUT, IE, THE VASI TO DOMINATE MY ATTN. FATIGUE MAY HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR, BUT I'D PUT IT FAR BELOW THE AFOREMENTIONED.

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.