A helicopter pilot reports landing on an incorrect ship under way on an ocean transit.

Attributes
ACN	761811
Time
Date	200711
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Altitude	agl single value : 100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 11700 flight time type : 4700
ASRS Report	761811
Events
Anomaly	incursion : landing without clearance non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

We took off with a flight plan to a maritime vessel. The dispatch office gave us an updated position for it; which we loaded in the GPS. The visibility was more than 10 mi; and there were several platforms in the general area where our target was supposed to be. When we were about 8 mi out by the GPS; I saw a vessel underway with a heading coming out from that general area; but it was about 40 degrees off the course of our target. It was consistent with the direction; the speed; and time from the 'last position' we had in the GPS though. From my position I recognized that vessel like our target; taking in consideration that I didn't know that there will be another one like it. I headed to it; made the approach; and landed on the deck. I never saw the name on the deck because I was concentrated in the approach itself. We took off again after somebody from the boat made me realize that I was on the wrong boat.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A HELICOPTER PILOT REPORTS LANDING ON AN INCORRECT SHIP UNDER WAY ON AN OCEAN TRANSIT.

Narrative: WE TOOK OFF WITH A FLT PLAN TO A MARITIME VESSEL. THE DISPATCH OFFICE GAVE US AN UPDATED POS FOR IT; WHICH WE LOADED IN THE GPS. THE VISIBILITY WAS MORE THAN 10 MI; AND THERE WERE SEVERAL PLATFORMS IN THE GENERAL AREA WHERE OUR TARGET WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. WHEN WE WERE ABOUT 8 MI OUT BY THE GPS; I SAW A VESSEL UNDERWAY WITH A HDG COMING OUT FROM THAT GENERAL AREA; BUT IT WAS ABOUT 40 DEGS OFF THE COURSE OF OUR TARGET. IT WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE DIRECTION; THE SPD; AND TIME FROM THE 'LAST POS' WE HAD IN THE GPS THOUGH. FROM MY POS I RECOGNIZED THAT VESSEL LIKE OUR TARGET; TAKING IN CONSIDERATION THAT I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ONE LIKE IT. I HEADED TO IT; MADE THE APCH; AND LANDED ON THE DECK. I NEVER SAW THE NAME ON THE DECK BECAUSE I WAS CONCENTRATED IN THE APCH ITSELF. WE TOOK OFF AGAIN AFTER SOMEBODY FROM THE BOAT MADE ME REALIZE THAT I WAS ON THE WRONG BOAT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.