Taxiway approach landing. Unauthorized landing.

Attributes
ACN	260251
Time
Date	199312
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : las
State Reference	NV
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 Aircraft
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 1200 flight time type : 10
ASRS Report	260251
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation Operational Deviation

Narrative:

I was on a long straight-in approach to runway 1L. At about 15 mi out, I was asked by the approach controller if I had the airport in sight. I answered yes. As I got closer, he asked if I had the runway in sight. I answered yes as I could see the right runway and what I thought was the left runway . After I was switched to the tower, he asked if I had the runway in sight. I answered in the affirmative as I could clearly see the 2 runways I had idented earlier. I landed on the left one. It wasn't until I was on the ground that it began to look strange to me. As I slowed to turn off, the tower told me I had landed on the taxiway. By then, it was quite clear to me, as where I turned off was at the start of runway 1L. Corrective action: I should have looked at the diagram of the runways I had with me long before I landed. Also, the tower could have assured themselves that I had the correct runway in sight if they would have mentioned that the left runway starts at nearly midfield. As it was, their statements increased my fixation on the taxiway I could see from way out.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TXWY APCH LNDG. UNAUTH LNDG.

Narrative: I WAS ON A LONG STRAIGHT-IN APCH TO RWY 1L. AT ABOUT 15 MI OUT, I WAS ASKED BY THE APCH CTLR IF I HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT. I ANSWERED YES. AS I GOT CLOSER, HE ASKED IF I HAD THE RWY IN SIGHT. I ANSWERED YES AS I COULD SEE THE R RWY AND WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE L RWY . AFTER I WAS SWITCHED TO THE TWR, HE ASKED IF I HAD THE RWY IN SIGHT. I ANSWERED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AS I COULD CLRLY SEE THE 2 RWYS I HAD IDENTED EARLIER. I LANDED ON THE L ONE. IT WASN'T UNTIL I WAS ON THE GND THAT IT BEGAN TO LOOK STRANGE TO ME. AS I SLOWED TO TURN OFF, THE TWR TOLD ME I HAD LANDED ON THE TXWY. BY THEN, IT WAS QUITE CLR TO ME, AS WHERE I TURNED OFF WAS AT THE START OF RWY 1L. CORRECTIVE ACTION: I SHOULD HAVE LOOKED AT THE DIAGRAM OF THE RWYS I HAD WITH ME LONG BEFORE I LANDED. ALSO, THE TWR COULD HAVE ASSURED THEMSELVES THAT I HAD THE CORRECT RWY IN SIGHT IF THEY WOULD HAVE MENTIONED THAT THE L RWY STARTS AT NEARLY MIDFIELD. AS IT WAS, THEIR STATEMENTS INCREASED MY FIXATION ON THE TXWY I COULD SEE FROM WAY OUT.

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.