FLT INSTRUCTOR IN A HURRY; LANDS WRONG RWY.
Synopsis
FLT INSTRUCTOR IN A HURRY; LANDS WRONG RWY.
Narrative
WITH A TIGHT TIME SCHEDULE TO MEET A PLT AT SJC FOR HIS BFR FLT; I DEPARTED PAO DOWNWIND DIRECT TO SJC VIA MOFFETT NAS. (ATA TRANSITION.) I WAS A LITTLE BUSY FLYING AN AIRPLANE THAT I WAS PLTING FOR THE FIRST TIME (48+ HRS IN MAKE AND MODEL...ZERO). AFTER MOFFETT; I ENTERED A L DOWNWIND FOR SJC RWY 29; PER SJC TWR CLRNC. I WAS CLRED TO LAND AND WENT DIRECTLY TO RWY 30L; MADE A 'PROFESSIONAL' LNDG NOT EVEN REALIZING WHAT RWY I WAS ON; UNTIL TWR INSTRUCTED ME TO 'TURN L; HOLD SHORT OF RWY 29; CONTACT GND POINT 7.' WHAT A TERRIBLE FEELING! I HAVE NEVER EVEN BEEN CLOSE TO ALLOWING AN EVENT LIKE THAT TO OCCUR IN MY PLTING CAREER. I WAS SHOCKED AND PUZZLED WITH MY BEHAVIOR/PERFORMANCE. NO HARM WAS DONE; NO CONFLICTS OCCURRED AND ATC DIDN'T ASK ME TO CONTACT THEM. I CALLED THE SJC TWR WHEN THE CTLR WAS OFF SHIFT AND DISCUSSED THE EVENT WITH HER AND APOLOGIZED FOR THE ERROR. SHE SAID NO RPT WOULD BE FILED AND THAT NO HARM WAS DONE. I HAVE FLOWN (AND LIVED) IN THIS AREA ALL MY LIFE; SO THE ARPTS AND RWYS ARE ALL VERY FAMILIAR TO ME. I GUESS I WAS SO FOCUSED ON LNDG TO GET TO MY APPOINTMENT; THAT THE LARGEST RWY CAUGHT MY ATTN; THE APCH PATH WAS CLR AND I LANDED. IT APPEARS TO BE A GOOD LESSON AND 'WAKE UP' CALL TO BE EVEN MORE ALERT AND VIGILANT; ESPECIALLY IF ONE IS ON A TIGHT SCHEDULE.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.