Narrative:

Center cleared us direct patty NDB as we arrived from the northwest. After changing to approach, we were given lower altitude, but I recall no further heading instructions. About 15 NM out, approach cleared us visibility to runway 08. We began a gradual descent and saw what we thought was runway 10. I lined up with the runway, offset about 1/2 mi to the south, anticipating the left turn to runway 08. We could not see runway 08 and asked about the lights. The lights were turned up, but we still could not see it. We suspected a problem. About 2-3 NM from isla grande, approach stated she thought we were lined up with isla grande and suggested a 10 degree turn for luis munoz. At that time we looked toward the horizon and saw the correct runway. There was no traffic conflict or abrupt maneuver to correct. However, I suspect we passed approximately 1 NM south of isla grande at 1000' (closer than 'normal' visibility approachs). Landing at luis munoz was uneventful. On previous arrs to luis munoz (I had been there only 4 times), approach instructed us to intercept localizer 10 before clearing visibility to runway 08. This night they did not. Because we thought we saw the airport, we accepted the clearance and tuned in localizer 08. As a result, we had no precise course guidance or DME. Both airports appear to be situated on similar terrain features and are nearly aligned. Perhaps san juan approach should make it a policy to clear aircraft to intercept localizer 10 and ensure they are on course and abeam isla grande before issuing a visibility clearance. In addition, the charts might include a notice about isla grande. At night, the coastal and inlet water features can appear similar. This was the third flight at the end of about a 12 hour day. As a crew, I would plan to keep the VOR/DME 114.0 tuned until localizer course guidance is stabilized.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MAKES VISUAL APCH AT NIGHT TO WRONG ARPT.

Narrative: CENTER CLRED US DIRECT PATTY NDB AS WE ARRIVED FROM THE NW. AFTER CHANGING TO APCH, WE WERE GIVEN LOWER ALT, BUT I RECALL NO FURTHER HDG INSTRUCTIONS. ABOUT 15 NM OUT, APCH CLRED US VIS TO RWY 08. WE BEGAN A GRADUAL DSNT AND SAW WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS RWY 10. I LINED UP WITH THE RWY, OFFSET ABOUT 1/2 MI TO THE S, ANTICIPATING THE LEFT TURN TO RWY 08. WE COULD NOT SEE RWY 08 AND ASKED ABOUT THE LIGHTS. THE LIGHTS WERE TURNED UP, BUT WE STILL COULD NOT SEE IT. WE SUSPECTED A PROB. ABOUT 2-3 NM FROM ISLA GRANDE, APCH STATED SHE THOUGHT WE WERE LINED UP WITH ISLA GRANDE AND SUGGESTED A 10 DEG TURN FOR LUIS MUNOZ. AT THAT TIME WE LOOKED TOWARD THE HORIZON AND SAW THE CORRECT RWY. THERE WAS NO TFC CONFLICT OR ABRUPT MANEUVER TO CORRECT. HOWEVER, I SUSPECT WE PASSED APPROX 1 NM S OF ISLA GRANDE AT 1000' (CLOSER THAN 'NORMAL' VIS APCHS). LNDG AT LUIS MUNOZ WAS UNEVENTFUL. ON PREVIOUS ARRS TO LUIS MUNOZ (I HAD BEEN THERE ONLY 4 TIMES), APCH INSTRUCTED US TO INTERCEPT LOC 10 BEFORE CLRING VIS TO RWY 08. THIS NIGHT THEY DID NOT. BECAUSE WE THOUGHT WE SAW THE ARPT, WE ACCEPTED THE CLRNC AND TUNED IN LOC 08. AS A RESULT, WE HAD NO PRECISE COURSE GUIDANCE OR DME. BOTH ARPTS APPEAR TO BE SITUATED ON SIMILAR TERRAIN FEATURES AND ARE NEARLY ALIGNED. PERHAPS SAN JUAN APCH SHOULD MAKE IT A POLICY TO CLR ACFT TO INTERCEPT LOC 10 AND ENSURE THEY ARE ON COURSE AND ABEAM ISLA GRANDE BEFORE ISSUING A VIS CLRNC. IN ADDITION, THE CHARTS MIGHT INCLUDE A NOTICE ABOUT ISLA GRANDE. AT NIGHT, THE COASTAL AND INLET WATER FEATURES CAN APPEAR SIMILAR. THIS WAS THE THIRD FLT AT THE END OF ABOUT A 12 HR DAY. AS A CREW, I WOULD PLAN TO KEEP THE VOR/DME 114.0 TUNED UNTIL LOC COURSE GUIDANCE IS STABILIZED.

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.