Small aircraft approach to wrong airport. Called on unicom frequency while making approach to tower ...

Attributes
ACN	110876
Time
Date	198905
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : oxr airport : cma
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1300 msl bound upper : 1300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : oxr
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 36 flight time total : 1095 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	110876
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a VFR flight from my home base to attend a fly in at camarillo airport, I inadvertently mistook the oxnard airport for camarillo airport and started to make my approach using 122.8 to announce my position. Upon turning final I realized that I was making the approach to the wrong airport and executed a right turn and exited the area. Being unfamiliar with the area, the many aircraft in the area, and the close proximity of the 2 airports, compounded the situation. Possibly having aircraft landing at camarillo monitor or contact oxnard would help. Possibly have oxnard tower monitor unicom for camarillo and advise incoming aircraft if this situation might occur again. This is the first time in 20 yrs of flying I have had this situation happen.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA APCH TO WRONG ARPT. CALLED ON UNICOM FREQ WHILE MAKING APCH TO TWR CONTROLLED ARPT.

Narrative: ON A VFR FLT FROM MY HOME BASE TO ATTEND A FLY IN AT CAMARILLO ARPT, I INADVERTENTLY MISTOOK THE OXNARD ARPT FOR CAMARILLO ARPT AND STARTED TO MAKE MY APCH USING 122.8 TO ANNOUNCE MY POSITION. UPON TURNING FINAL I REALIZED THAT I WAS MAKING THE APCH TO THE WRONG ARPT AND EXECUTED A RIGHT TURN AND EXITED THE AREA. BEING UNFAMILIAR WITH THE AREA, THE MANY ACFT IN THE AREA, AND THE CLOSE PROX OF THE 2 ARPTS, COMPOUNDED THE SITUATION. POSSIBLY HAVING ACFT LNDG AT CAMARILLO MONITOR OR CONTACT OXNARD WOULD HELP. POSSIBLY HAVE OXNARD TWR MONITOR UNICOM FOR CAMARILLO AND ADVISE INCOMING ACFT IF THIS SITUATION MIGHT OCCUR AGAIN. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YRS OF FLYING I HAVE HAD THIS SITUATION HAPPEN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Small aircraft approach to wrong airport. Called on unicom frequency while making approach to tower controlled airport.