CE560XL Flight Crew reports landing without clearance due to the distractions of an actual IMC back course Localizer approach and fatigue.
Synopsis
CE560XL Flight Crew reports landing without clearance due to the distractions of an actual IMC back course Localizer approach and fatigue.
Narrative
Day four of seven; leg three of five for today. Being slightly tired and after not seeing a cloud in the sky for the last two months. We somehow failed to get landing clearance from Tower when landing today while doing the Back Course to 27L. I was Pilot Flying; I and my copilot never recall getting passed on to Tower from Approach Control. We never caught it. I believe we got caught up in the unusual situation of shooting an approach let alone a back course; which we rarely do. Upon landing roll all seamed normal until we never received taxi clearance off the active from Tower. After turning off at a normal/safe taxiway we noticed we were not on Tower frequency nor were both landing lights in the normal landing position. We were still on approach frequency. We then contacted Ground Control and taxied to the FBO and deplaned our passenger in a normal fashion. Maybe ten minutes later; after discussing with my flying partner; I called Tower on the phone and spoke with him on our situation. The Tower was glad we called; and said no further action was required.
Second reporter narrative
We were attempting an IFR approach which happened to be a localizer back course. We were on day 4 and were getting tired. They; as usual; try to wring as much duty time as they possibly can out of the crew. I noted during an extended left base that the FMS was set up wrong. The extended centerline was front course. This was cleared up and we were turned onto final. I was focusing on my duties and call outs. Upon landing; I went to dial in Ground Control; when it struck me. We had just landed without a clearance.I have not flown since June [and] have not flown IFR for even longer. I wasn't mentally prepared for an IFR approach. It just kind of popped up on us. I was attempting to make sure I configured a back course properly; and my partner had set up the front course and not back course. This distracted me. The Tower had given us a green light and assumed we were having radio problems. We told him what happened. It is so easy to simply blame the pilots. After all; the buck does stop here. The company MUST take fatigue issues seriously and quit paying it lip service. We try so hard to take care of our customers and fatigue is so insidious; that sometimes we push ourselves just a little farther until a mistake is made. Unfortunately when you take a west coast pilot and make him get up at early hour eastern time; this is a HUGE time shift; that alone causes tired pilots. Then make him work 12-14 hours; with 10-12 hours of rest... As sad as it is; I am afraid it will take a fatality in our company before they finally get serious about it. Then it will be too late; very sad. Had I not had a 2 hour break to sleep after this landing; I would have called in fatigued. As it turns out; I should have called before this last leg. Stop the insanity; and do reasonable schedules before someone gets killed.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.