Flight of 3 smas returned to rhv landing after sunset with no landing navigation lights.

Attributes
ACN	97343
Time
Date	198811
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rhv
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : rhv
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	landing other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 750
ASRS Report	97343
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 650 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	97402
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Having left frazier lake airpark for reid-hillview, we believed we had plenty of time before dark. We had been informed by a third party that sunset was xx:20 pm. In fact it was about xx:10 pm. That coupled with stronger than forecast winds caused us to arrive after sunset, much to the chagrin of the tower. We used the unlighted left runway to help him out. In the future we will leave so as to arrive early so as to allow for any unexpected turn of events. Supplemental information from acn 97402. Rhu has turned us in to FAA.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT OF 3 SMAS RETURNED TO RHV LNDG AFTER SUNSET WITH NO LNDG NAVIGATION LIGHTS.

Narrative: HAVING LEFT FRAZIER LAKE AIRPARK FOR REID-HILLVIEW, WE BELIEVED WE HAD PLENTY OF TIME BEFORE DARK. WE HAD BEEN INFORMED BY A THIRD PARTY THAT SUNSET WAS XX:20 PM. IN FACT IT WAS ABOUT XX:10 PM. THAT COUPLED WITH STRONGER THAN FORECAST WINDS CAUSED US TO ARRIVE AFTER SUNSET, MUCH TO THE CHAGRIN OF THE TWR. WE USED THE UNLIGHTED LEFT RWY TO HELP HIM OUT. IN THE FUTURE WE WILL LEAVE SO AS TO ARRIVE EARLY SO AS TO ALLOW FOR ANY UNEXPECTED TURN OF EVENTS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 97402. RHU HAS TURNED US IN TO FAA.

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