A PA28 pilot reported becoming disoriented on a runway 5 downwind and landing on runway 32 without f...

Attributes
ACN	889916
Time
Date	201005
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 2.3 Flight Crew Total 165.8 Flight Crew Type 165.8
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types Ground Incursion Runway

Narrative:

Approaching class C airspace; I was told to report a left downwind for runway 5 by the tower. I promptly did so at about midfield. The tower advised me to continue left base and keep an eye out for traffic that I would be following in. Scanning; I saw no traffic but continued on. I turned base; then final; still not seeing the traffic. On short final I realized that I was coming in on runway 32 instead of 5; so somewhere between downwind and final approach I deviated approximately 90 degrees onto the inactive runway; hence explaining why I did not see the traffic. I made absolutely sure there was no traffic on either runway before coming in; but did not advise the tower. I should have broken off the approach and advised the tower but I did not. In order to make sure I do not make a mistake like this again; I am going back to my CFI for refresher training in airspace operation; pattern work; and general competency with my skills. I will do this before flying solo or with a passenger again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA28 Pilot reported becoming disoriented on a Runway 5 downwind and landing on Runway 32 without first notifying the tower when he realized his error before landing.

Narrative: Approaching Class C airspace; I was told to report a left downwind for Runway 5 by the Tower. I promptly did so at about midfield. The Tower advised me to continue left base and keep an eye out for traffic that I would be following in. Scanning; I saw no traffic but continued on. I turned base; then final; still not seeing the traffic. On short final I realized that I was coming in on Runway 32 instead of 5; so somewhere between downwind and final approach I deviated approximately 90 degrees onto the inactive runway; hence explaining why I did not see the traffic. I made absolutely sure there was no traffic on either runway before coming in; but did not advise the Tower. I should have broken off the approach and advised the Tower but I did not. In order to make sure I do not make a mistake like this again; I am going back to my CFI for refresher training in airspace operation; pattern work; and general competency with my skills. I will do this before flying solo or with a passenger again.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

A PA28 pilot reported becoming disoriented on a runway 5 downwind and landing on runway 32 without first notifying the tower when he realized his error before landing.