Narrative:

Arriving from the south, on an IFR flight plan, we had both tij and sdm in sight. We cancelled IFR and were to proceed visually to sdm. While I was busy using a roll type, non standard (i.e., non factory checklist). The captain began a high sink rate spoilers extended approach. I could see a runway in my peripheral vision, but at about 500' jdm tower suggested we check our runway heading as it appeared we were lined up on tij instead of sdm. We pulled up and landed subsequently at sdm. In retrospect, the operation was too loose, instead of a stabilized arrival with everything (checklists, etc) done early, so both pilots were in the loop, everything was done all at once. I was distracted instead of catching the error early on. This was the first trip I had with this captain.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CORP LTT MAKES APCH TO TIJ IN ERROR WHEN CLEARED FOR VISUAL APCH TO NEARBY SDM.

Narrative: ARRIVING FROM THE S, ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, WE HAD BOTH TIJ AND SDM IN SIGHT. WE CANCELLED IFR AND WERE TO PROCEED VISUALLY TO SDM. WHILE I WAS BUSY USING A ROLL TYPE, NON STANDARD (I.E., NON FACTORY CHKLIST). THE CAPT BEGAN A HIGH SINK RATE SPOILERS EXTENDED APCH. I COULD SEE A RWY IN MY PERIPHERAL VISION, BUT AT ABOUT 500' JDM TWR SUGGESTED WE CHK OUR RWY HDG AS IT APPEARED WE WERE LINED UP ON TIJ INSTEAD OF SDM. WE PULLED UP AND LANDED SUBSEQUENTLY AT SDM. IN RETROSPECT, THE OPERATION WAS TOO LOOSE, INSTEAD OF A STABILIZED ARR WITH EVERYTHING (CHKLISTS, ETC) DONE EARLY, SO BOTH PLTS WERE IN THE LOOP, EVERYTHING WAS DONE ALL AT ONCE. I WAS DISTRACTED INSTEAD OF CATCHING THE ERROR EARLY ON. THIS WAS THE FIRST TRIP I HAD WITH THIS CAPT.

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.