Narrative:

On approach to runway 9R phl, vectored from the northwest 180 degree . Conditions IFR, rain heavy at times, mod turbulence, storm scope reporting sign. Elec activity on and off just south of phl. Cleared after vectors to join the localizer. Vectors were most likely for spacing as I was requested best speed possible because of traffic. I hit heavy rain and mod turbulence as I descended to join localizer. After localizer I broke out at about 800'. At that time I saw what I thought was runway 9L and made right turn. Tower informed me to side step to runway 9L. Alter they cleared me for the approach. After breaking out I was informed by tower that a widebody transport was 1 mi on approach to runway 9R. It was then that I realized I was approaching the taxiway left on runway 9R and I was to low to see runway 9L. The widebody transport saw that I was too close to runway 9R (I was headed for the taxiway on the left of runway 9R) and decided to go around. I decided to land and did so because visibility was good and there was absolutely no traffic on this taxiway for its entire length. I would have gone around but the widebody transport already declared himself and the tower had reported 15 KT change in airspeed on an small aircraft just preceeding me. As I was close to the ground I thought it was the safest thing to land. Tower did not say anything to me at all. I taxied as requested. Contributing factors were WX, ie possible wind shear, heavy rain on the approach, faster traffic and unfamiliarity with this particular approach. (I have always landed and taken off on runways 17-35 at phl). Also I have never had any instruction on a side step and when I finally broke out and centered on runway 9R I was too low to see runway 9L which is a considerable distance left and further down the field.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT ON IFR APCH IN IMC WITH TURBULENCE AND HEAVY RAIN LINES UP WITH TXWY INSTEAD OF RWY WHEN HE BREAKS OUT OF OVERCAST. DUE WIND SHEAR DECIDES TO LAND ON TXWY.

Narrative: ON APCH TO RWY 9R PHL, VECTORED FROM THE NW 180 DEG . CONDITIONS IFR, RAIN HVY AT TIMES, MOD TURB, STORM SCOPE RPTING SIGN. ELEC ACTIVITY ON AND OFF JUST S OF PHL. CLRED AFTER VECTORS TO JOIN THE LOC. VECTORS WERE MOST LIKELY FOR SPACING AS I WAS REQUESTED BEST SPD POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF TFC. I HIT HVY RAIN AND MOD TURB AS I DSNDED TO JOIN LOC. AFTER LOC I BROKE OUT AT ABOUT 800'. AT THAT TIME I SAW WHAT I THOUGHT WAS RWY 9L AND MADE R TURN. TWR INFORMED ME TO SIDE STEP TO RWY 9L. ALTER THEY CLRED ME FOR THE APCH. AFTER BREAKING OUT I WAS INFORMED BY TWR THAT A WDB WAS 1 MI ON APCH TO RWY 9R. IT WAS THEN THAT I REALIZED I WAS APCHING THE TXWY L ON RWY 9R AND I WAS TO LOW TO SEE RWY 9L. THE WDB SAW THAT I WAS TOO CLOSE TO RWY 9R (I WAS HEADED FOR THE TXWY ON THE L OF RWY 9R) AND DECIDED TO GO AROUND. I DECIDED TO LAND AND DID SO BECAUSE VISIBILITY WAS GOOD AND THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO TFC ON THIS TXWY FOR ITS ENTIRE LENGTH. I WOULD HAVE GONE AROUND BUT THE WDB ALREADY DECLARED HIMSELF AND THE TWR HAD RPTED 15 KT CHANGE IN AIRSPD ON AN SMA JUST PRECEEDING ME. AS I WAS CLOSE TO THE GND I THOUGHT IT WAS THE SAFEST THING TO LAND. TWR DID NOT SAY ANYTHING TO ME AT ALL. I TAXIED AS REQUESTED. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE WX, IE POSSIBLE WIND SHEAR, HVY RAIN ON THE APCH, FASTER TFC AND UNFAMILIARITY WITH THIS PARTICULAR APCH. (I HAVE ALWAYS LANDED AND TAKEN OFF ON RWYS 17-35 AT PHL). ALSO I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY INSTRUCTION ON A SIDE STEP AND WHEN I FINALLY BROKE OUT AND CTRED ON RWY 9R I WAS TOO LOW TO SEE RWY 9L WHICH IS A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE L AND FURTHER DOWN THE FIELD.

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.