Commercial instrument pilot reports mistaking SUU for APC and landing without clearance in ground fog.
Synopsis
Commercial instrument pilot reports mistaking SUU for APC and landing without clearance in ground fog.
Narrative
[I] departed IFR (VMC) from CCR enroute [to] STS; [landed at STS] and departed 1.5 hours later VFR (VMC) to return to CCR. [The] ATIS [at] CCR reported IFR; ground fog; visibility .25 miles; [and cloud] tops at 300 FT. Obtained IFR clearance and made two LDA [Runway] 19 approaches; both of which were missed with no runway visual contact. Diverted to APC and canceled IFR under VMC. Controller; upon request; provided vectors and runway was observed ahead. Reported field in sight and was told to go to 1200 [squawk] code. I went to APC frequency; [the] Tower had closed; and landed. [The] runway was clear from above but; once within 50 FT; the visibility was .2 miles. Slow taxied to exit to [the] taxiway and proceeded to enclosed ramp area. [A] security truck approached [and I] was directed to shut down and get out; which I did. [I was] taken into custody and informed that I was at SUU and not APC.[My mistake was] focusing on landing on the in-sight runway. [I] should have activated portable GPS to ascertain APC distance as well as tuning in APC VOR for direction and DME distance. [I] was premature in canceling IFR with Controller and should have remained on IFR with Controller until at APC. [The] Controller did all that he was required to do; but an alert to me before turning me loose on VFR with the distance to APC would have probably alerted me that the runway ahead was not APC; which was another 20 miles ahead.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.