Small jet flight crew reports mistaking mzj runway 12 for avq runway 12. Error is discovered on grou...

Attributes
ACN	785418
Time
Date	200805
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mzj.airport
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : charter
Make Model Name	Light Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	landing : roll
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : charter
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 450
ASRS Report	785418
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Chart Or Publication Flight Crew Human Performance Airport
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Departed at XA30Z for XB30Z arrival at avq. Descent to avq; crew decided to back up visual approach to runway 12 with RNAV approach runway 12 at avq. During approach phase; crew received 2 TA's with aircraft at our altitude. Due to terrain to the north; we turned right (south) to avoid traffic. After clearing traffic; crew turned east and spotted runway 12 at mzj (pinal airpark). Thought it was runway 12 at avq. Landed on runway 12 mzj. Realizing we were at the wrong airport; we took off VFR and flew 4-7 NM to runway 12 at avq. Landing was uneventful. Crew forgot about having to be re-dispatched after a diversion or other airport departure. Contacted company immediately and disclosed error. FBO at avq says this happens 2-3 times per week. Multiple items contributed to the incident: 1) extremely close proximity of mzj and avq. 2) both airports have a runway 12. In fact; they almost share the same centerline. 3) TCAS traffic advisories (2 of them) forced crew to abandon published instrument approach procedure (which crew was using to back up visual approach). 4) after leaving published approach segment; crew lost some situational awareness and landed at an airport we didn't know was there. 5) after landing at wrong airport; crew forgot to get released and dispatched from mzj to avq.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMALL JET FLT CREW REPORTS MISTAKING MZJ RWY 12 FOR AVQ RWY 12. ERROR IS DISCOVERED ON GROUND AND FLT CREW DEPARTS FOR AVQ WITHOUT DISPATCH RELEASE.

Narrative: DEPARTED AT XA30Z FOR XB30Z ARR AT AVQ. DSCNT TO AVQ; CREW DECIDED TO BACK UP VISUAL APCH TO RWY 12 WITH RNAV APCH RWY 12 AT AVQ. DURING APCH PHASE; CREW RECEIVED 2 TA'S WITH ACFT AT OUR ALT. DUE TO TERRAIN TO THE N; WE TURNED R (S) TO AVOID TFC. AFTER CLRING TFC; CREW TURNED E AND SPOTTED RWY 12 AT MZJ (PINAL AIRPARK). THOUGHT IT WAS RWY 12 AT AVQ. LANDED ON RWY 12 MZJ. REALIZING WE WERE AT THE WRONG ARPT; WE TOOK OFF VFR AND FLEW 4-7 NM TO RWY 12 AT AVQ. LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL. CREW FORGOT ABOUT HAVING TO BE RE-DISPATCHED AFTER A DIVERSION OR OTHER ARPT DEP. CONTACTED COMPANY IMMEDIATELY AND DISCLOSED ERROR. FBO AT AVQ SAYS THIS HAPPENS 2-3 TIMES PER WK. MULTIPLE ITEMS CONTRIBUTED TO THE INCIDENT: 1) EXTREMELY CLOSE PROX OF MZJ AND AVQ. 2) BOTH ARPTS HAVE A RWY 12. IN FACT; THEY ALMOST SHARE THE SAME CTRLINE. 3) TCAS TFC ADVISORIES (2 OF THEM) FORCED CREW TO ABANDON PUBLISHED INST APCH PROC (WHICH CREW WAS USING TO BACK UP VISUAL APCH). 4) AFTER LEAVING PUBLISHED APCH SEGMENT; CREW LOST SOME SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND LANDED AT AN ARPT WE DIDN'T KNOW WAS THERE. 5) AFTER LNDG AT WRONG ARPT; CREW FORGOT TO GET RELEASED AND DISPATCHED FROM MZJ TO AVQ.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.

Small jet flight crew reports mistaking mzj runway 12 for avq runway 12. Error is discovered on ground and flight crew departs for avq without dispatch release.