Small aircraft pilot at mer states pilot controlled lighting is not on the CTAF when ATCT is closed.

Attributes
ACN	786223
Time
Date	200805
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mer.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 750
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : srq.tower
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 400 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	786223
Events
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Chart Or Publication Flight Crew Human Performance Airport
Primary Problem	Airport
Situations
Airport	lighting : mer.airport

Narrative:

Pilot controlled lighting at this airport is on 123.075; rather than 118.175; which is the CTAF. To top that off; the lights go off unexpectedly and unpredictably. This occurs while many airplanes are in the pattern and constantly using the CTAF. Ironically; the VASI lights stay on! The pilot controlled lighting needs to be on the CTAF; and only turn off by a significant timer; or when the military needs to do it!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT AT MER STATES PCL IS NOT ON THE CTAF WHEN ATCT IS CLOSED.

Narrative: PILOT CONTROLLED LIGHTING AT THIS AIRPORT IS ON 123.075; RATHER THAN 118.175; WHICH IS THE CTAF. TO TOP THAT OFF; THE LIGHTS GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY AND UNPREDICTABLY. THIS OCCURS WHILE MANY AIRPLANES ARE IN THE PATTERN AND CONSTANTLY USING THE CTAF. IRONICALLY; THE VASI LIGHTS STAY ON! THE PCL NEEDS TO BE ON THE CTAF; AND ONLY TURN OFF BY A SIGNIFICANT TIMER; OR WHEN THE MILITARY NEEDS TO DO IT!

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.