A PILOT REPORTS A NIGHT LNDG AT TOA. HE MISTAKENLY LANDED ON THE TXWY INSTEAD OF 29L.
Synopsis
A PILOT REPORTS A NIGHT LNDG AT TOA. HE MISTAKENLY LANDED ON THE TXWY INSTEAD OF 29L.
Narrative
I WAS RETURNING TO TOA APCHING THE ARPT FROM THE NW. THE TWR WAS CLOSED. I ENTERED DOWNWIND FOR RWY 29; R TFC. I PLANNED TO LAND ON THE L. I ANNOUNCED MY POS ON DOWNWIND AND BASE. I CLICKED THE MIKE 5 TIMES. THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE IN THE PATTERN OR ON THE FREQ (124.0). I TURNED FINAL FOR THE L AND SAW A RECTANGLE (OUTLINE) OF LIGHTS. AS I TOUCHED DOWN I REALIZED IT WAS THE TXWY A NOT THE L RWY. THE TXWY WAS CLR. I DECIDED THE BEST THING AT THAT POINT WAS TO STOP AND TURN OFF. I TAXIED TO MY HANGAR WITHOUT INCIDENT. ANOTHER ACFT LANDED ON THE R A FEW MINS LATER. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: 1) COMPLACENCY. I HAVE LANDED ON THE L APPROX 1000 TIMES; INCLUDING AT NIGHT; WHEN THE TWR IS OPEN AND THE RWY LIGHTS ARE ON. I DIDN'T REALIZE THE LIGHTS WERE OFF AFTER THE TWR CLOSES. I ASSUMED LNDG ON THE L WOULD BE ROUTINE. 2) FATIGUE; LONG DAY OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITY PRIOR TO 3+ HR FLT. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: 1) ALWAYS REVIEW ARPT AND RWY INFO; ESPECIALLY IF UNUSUAL CONDITIONS. 2) REVIEW NIGHT LIGHTING PATTERNS FOR RWYS AND TXWYS. BLUE LIGHTS ARE NOT A RWY! FROM NOW ON I'LL ALWAYS USE THE MAJOR RWY AT NIGHT.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.