GA PLT FINDS OUT; LATE; THAT HE HAS MADE AN UNAUTH APCH AND LNDG AT A MIL ARPT.
Synopsis
GA PLT FINDS OUT; LATE; THAT HE HAS MADE AN UNAUTH APCH AND LNDG AT A MIL ARPT.
Narrative
I AM A 36 HR STUDENT PLT WHO IS SCHEDULED TO START XCOUNTRY TRAINING. THE MISSION OF THE SOLO FLT WAS TO PRACTICE FLT MANEUVERS. BECAUSE OF RECURRENT IFR CONDITIONS DURING DECEMBER IN THIS AREA; I HAD RECEIVED INSTRUCTION IN THESE MANEUVERS; BUT HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO PRACTICE THEM. THE PRACTICE ARPTS WERE BAZ (MANY FLTS WITH INSTRUCTOR AND 2 FLTS SOLO) AND T89 (2 FLTS WITH INSTRUCTOR ONLY). SHOWED CALM WINDS AND CLR SKIES. WHILE DIRECTLY S OF SAT AT 3500 FT; I WAS ROUTED TOWARD T89. I COULD SEE CLOUDS IN THAT AREA. I REQUESTED REROUTING TO BAZ; AS MY INSTRUCTOR HAD SUGGESTED FOR SUCH A CASE. ATC ROUTED ME TO THE NE OF THE CITY. ALONG THIS LEG; I NOTED RANDOLPH AFB TO THE N; AND RECALL THINKING THAT MY INSTRUCTOR HAD TOLD ME REPEATEDLY HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO FLY WELL AWAY (TO THE N); FROM RANDOLPH AND ITS AUX FIELD BECAUSE OF INTENSIVE JET TRAINING. ATC INSTRUCTED ME TO RESUME NAV. I TURNED TOWARD AN INTERSTATE HWY. AS I APCHED THE HWY; I SAW AN AIRFIELD WITH RWY LAYOUT THAT DIDN'T LOOK QUITE RIGHT; BUT DID HAVE A RWY 13/31. IT LOOKED LIKE MY USUAL PRACTICE AREA; EXCEPT I DIDN'T SEE THE USUAL LAKES AND SMALL REFINERY. I DISCOUNTED THESE DISCREPANCIES AND INFORMED ATC THAT I HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT. UPON RELEASE; I PROCEEDED TO PRACTICE TURNS THAT SHIFTED MY LOCATION SOMEWHAT. I THEN DECIDED TO PRACTICE LNDGS. I PROCEEDED TO THE NEARBY ARPT AND PREPARED TO ENTER THE PATTERN FOR RWY 13. I COULD HEAR AT LEAST 3 AIRPLANES IN THE TFC PATTERN AT BAZ ON THE CTAF; BUT DID NOT SEE ANY OF THEM. WHILE I WAS ABOUT TO ENTER THE DOWNWIND LEG; I HEARD ANOTHER AIRPLANE ANNOUNCE IT WAS ON DOWNWIND; SO I TURNED OUTSIDE THE PATTERN AND REENTERED; BUT COULD NOT SEE ANY AIRPLANES IN THE PATTERN. ON FINAL; THE RWY AND THE TXWYS DID NOT APPEAR FAMILIAR. UPON LNDG; I FINALLY REALIZED I WAS AT AN UNFAMILIAR ARPT. WHILE FLYING TO THE E OF SAT; ONE FIRST ENCOUNTERS SEQ. BAZ IS ABOUT 2 MI TO THE NW OF THAT FIELD. THERE ARE 2 EASY WAYS I COULD HAVE AVOIDED THIS PROB: 1) I COULD HAVE FOLLOWED MY COURSE ON THE SECTIONAL MAP THAT I HAD TUCKED NEATLY BTWN THE CONSOLE AND THE WINDSHIELD. 2) I COULD HAVE CHKED MY LOCATION ON THE SAT VOR. MY INSTRUCTOR HAS EMPHASIZED THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO PAY ATTN TO LANDMARKS ON THE GND. HAD I REMEMBERED HIS INSTRUCTIONS; I WOULD HAVE SEEN IMMEDIATELY THAT THE FIRST AIRFIELD WOULD BE SEQ; NOT BAZ. HOW TO AVOID LNDG ON MIL AIRBASES FOR STUDENT PLTS: 1) REMEMBER THAT ALL ARPTS IN THE SAME GEOGRAPHIC AREA MAY HAVE THE SAME RWY NUMBERS. 2) IF YOU TOOK A RTE TO YOUR INTENDED ARPT THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM YOUR USUAL RTE; FOLLOW YOUR COURSE ON THE SECTIONAL MAP. 3) AS YOU APCH THE ARPT; A) IF IT DOESN'T LOOK 'RIGHT' SEE #2 ABOVE. B) IF YOU ARE HEARING ACTIVE TFC ON CTAF FOR YOUR INTENDED ARPT; BUT AREN'T SEEING ANY PLANES; YOU MAY BE IN A DIFFERENT PLACE! C) ON FINAL; LOOK AT THE RWY. IF IT IS A LOT LONGER THAN YOU ARE EXPECTING; IT MAY BE MADE FOR JETS; SO DON'T LAND THERE. 4) AFTER LNDG; IF A TRUCK DRIVES UP TO YOUR PLANE AND SEVERAL POLITE; BUT FIT YOUNG PEOPLE GET OUT TO GREET YOU; PLAN ON SPENDING SOME TIME EXPLAINING YOURSELF TO THE AUTHS. YOU HAVE LANDED ON A MIL BASE.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.