CAP FERRY FLT FOR MAINT. PLT LANDS ON TAXIWAY.

Narrative

I WAS THE PIC AND SOLE PERSON ABOARD A CIVIL AIR PATROL. THE FLT WAS A FERRY FLT FROM 3V5 TO APA FOR MAINT. I PROCEEDED THROUGH THE DENVER TCA W OF STAPLETON AND THEN TURNED E TOWARD APA. I RPTED CHERRY CREEK RESERVOIR AND WAS CLRED TO LAND ON 17L. AT THIS TIME ALL WAS WELL AND I LINED UP ON A STRIP OF PAVEMENT. THE LNDG WAS A NEAR 10 WHEN I NOTICED THE YELLOW STRIPE. MY HEART THROBBED AS I; WITHOUT THINKING; WENT FOR THE THROTTLE. REALIZING IT WAS TOO LATE AND BY SHEER LUCK THE TAXIWAY WAS CLR I DECIDED TO APPLY BRAKES INSTEAD. I WAS REQUESTED TO CALL THE TWR AND I DID IMMEDIATELY UPON SECURING THE ACFT. THE TWR OPERATOR ASKED IF I KNEW WHAT I DID AND I INDICATED THAT I DID. I ASKED IF HE NEEDED ME TO COME TO THE TWR OR IF HE WANTED MY CERTIFICATE NUMBER AND HE REPLIED NO; AS LONG AS YOU KNOW ABOUT WHAT YOU DID AND IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. WE TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT ARPT FAMILIARITY WHICH WAS ACTUALLY IRRELEVANT. I HAVE BEEN INTO MANY ARPTS THE FIRST TIME AND THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION LIKE THIS ONE. THERE ARE SOME REASONS WHY THIS HAPPENED; THE MAIN ONE I WILL GO INTO HERE. ATTITUDE. I THINK THE #1 CAUSE OF THIS POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS MISTAKE WAS MY COMPLACENT ATTITUDE. I HAVE BEEN TO A FEW SAFETY SEMINARS AND FLT CLINICS AND HAVE FOUND THEM TO BE BORING AND REPETITIOUS. THEY ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE SAME OLD THINGS. ONE OF THE ITEMS I REMEMBER WAS ATTITUDE. THEY DISCUSSED THE DIFFERENT TYPE ATTITUDES AND SITUATIONS THAT CAN OCCUR. MY POS ON THIS SUBJECT HAS ALWAYS BEEN 'YEA I SEE WHAT THEY ARE SAYING; BUT I KNOW WHAT I AM DOING; I LEARNED TO FLY IN A CROWDED TCA; HAD GOOD INSTRUCTORS; LANDED AT BUSY ARPT IN ADVERSE CONDITIONS...' LOOKING BACK NOW; I AM LUCKY THAT THIS WAS A CHEAP LESSON. IT'S TOO BAD IT TOOK A REAL 'SLAP IN THE FACE' TO WAKE ME UP. AS FAR AS I KNOW AT THIS POINT CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL BE HANDLED BY CAP. THIS HAS BEEN A REAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND I SINCERELY HOPE TO MAKE THIS BAD INCIDENT INTO A NOT SO BAD ONE.