A cpr light transport almost made an approach to the wrong airport.

Attributes
ACN	253766
Time
Date	199310
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cll
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2300 msl bound upper : 2300
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : cll
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 163 flight time total : 9470 flight time type : 2200
ASRS Report	253766
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were west of cll on a radar vector to final approach fix. We were about 5-8 mi west of cll and the sun was very bright which made seeing to the east very difficult. Copilot called field in sight and reported it to center. We were cleared for a visual to runway 16 and instructed to contact eastwood tower. I did not have the field in sight but started my turn on advice of copilot. After dropping gear and flaps, airport was still not in sight and looking at my navaids nothing made sense. Copilot said he had the field in sight, but I said it must be the wrong airport. I remained VFR and called tower. They confirmed there was an uncontrolled airport west of cll with a runway 15. We then proceeded to bryin which is the FAF for runway 16 at cll. Recommendations: when the visibility is low, don't think you will see the airport at 8 mi. Don't let copilot call field in sight unless you have airport in sight. Use all of your available navaids to confirm your position. The bright sun a big factor in this approach. We were too anxious to cancel IFR. We should have flown the entire approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CPR LTT ALMOST MADE AN APCH TO THE WRONG ARPT.

Narrative: WE WERE W OF CLL ON A RADAR VECTOR TO FINAL APCH FIX. WE WERE ABOUT 5-8 MI W OF CLL AND THE SUN WAS VERY BRIGHT WHICH MADE SEEING TO THE E VERY DIFFICULT. COPLT CALLED FIELD IN SIGHT AND RPTED IT TO CTR. WE WERE CLRED FOR A VISUAL TO RWY 16 AND INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT EASTWOOD TWR. I DID NOT HAVE THE FIELD IN SIGHT BUT STARTED MY TURN ON ADVICE OF COPLT. AFTER DROPPING GEAR AND FLAPS, ARPT WAS STILL NOT IN SIGHT AND LOOKING AT MY NAVAIDS NOTHING MADE SENSE. COPLT SAID HE HAD THE FIELD IN SIGHT, BUT I SAID IT MUST BE THE WRONG ARPT. I REMAINED VFR AND CALLED TWR. THEY CONFIRMED THERE WAS AN UNCTLED ARPT W OF CLL WITH A RWY 15. WE THEN PROCEEDED TO BRYIN WHICH IS THE FAF FOR RWY 16 AT CLL. RECOMMENDATIONS: WHEN THE VISIBILITY IS LOW, DON'T THINK YOU WILL SEE THE ARPT AT 8 MI. DON'T LET COPLT CALL FIELD IN SIGHT UNLESS YOU HAVE ARPT IN SIGHT. USE ALL OF YOUR AVAILABLE NAVAIDS TO CONFIRM YOUR POS. THE BRIGHT SUN A BIG FACTOR IN THIS APCH. WE WERE TOO ANXIOUS TO CANCEL IFR. WE SHOULD HAVE FLOWN THE ENTIRE APCH.

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.