Private small transport intending arrival at AL15 ends up at nbj instead. Navy personnel not amused.

Attributes
ACN	144074
Time
Date	199004
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : nbj airport : al15
State Reference	AL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 1800 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	144074
Person 2
Affiliation	government : military
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar other other : other
Events
Anomaly	incursion : landing without clearance other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on a VFR flight from dothan, al to jack edwards field (gulf shores, al), I contacted pensacola approach 50 mi northeast of edwards and requested flight following since I knew that the area was heavily used by the navy. Approach gave me several vectors and altitude restrictions, and finally directed me to resume normal navigation about 15 mi nne of edwards. I contacted edwards unicom requesting an advisory and was told that runway 9 was in use. I spotted the air field, reported left downwind and landed. Upon landing I realized that the field was not edwards but a navy practice field (nbj), barin nolf. Both fields have a runway 9-27 and both have a n-s crossing runway. Both have a metal bldg on the field. Barin is 4 mi north of edwards. I filled out the requested paperwork and was allowed to depart. I was told by the navy personnel that at least 4 other civilian lndgs had occurred in the past yr. I feel that approach should have made me aware of the possibility of a mistake. However, the pilot is always responsible for navigating to the field and identing it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT SMT INTENDING ARR AT AL15 ENDS UP AT NBJ INSTEAD. NAVY PERSONNEL NOT AMUSED.

Narrative: WHILE ON A VFR FLT FROM DOTHAN, AL TO JACK EDWARDS FIELD (GULF SHORES, AL), I CONTACTED PENSACOLA APCH 50 MI NE OF EDWARDS AND REQUESTED FLT FOLLOWING SINCE I KNEW THAT THE AREA WAS HEAVILY USED BY THE NAVY. APCH GAVE ME SEVERAL VECTORS AND ALT RESTRICTIONS, AND FINALLY DIRECTED ME TO RESUME NORMAL NAV ABOUT 15 MI NNE OF EDWARDS. I CONTACTED EDWARDS UNICOM REQUESTING AN ADVISORY AND WAS TOLD THAT RWY 9 WAS IN USE. I SPOTTED THE AIR FIELD, RPTED LEFT DOWNWIND AND LANDED. UPON LNDG I REALIZED THAT THE FIELD WAS NOT EDWARDS BUT A NAVY PRACTICE FIELD (NBJ), BARIN NOLF. BOTH FIELDS HAVE A RWY 9-27 AND BOTH HAVE A N-S XING RWY. BOTH HAVE A METAL BLDG ON THE FIELD. BARIN IS 4 MI N OF EDWARDS. I FILLED OUT THE REQUESTED PAPERWORK AND WAS ALLOWED TO DEPART. I WAS TOLD BY THE NAVY PERSONNEL THAT AT LEAST 4 OTHER CIVILIAN LNDGS HAD OCCURRED IN THE PAST YR. I FEEL THAT APCH SHOULD HAVE MADE ME AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF A MISTAKE. HOWEVER, THE PLT IS ALWAYS RESPONSIBLE FOR NAVIGATING TO THE FIELD AND IDENTING IT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.