Narrative:

Planned IFR cross country flight from pdk-rgd, student obtained standard WX briefing from macon FSS at XA50L oct/xx/94, no active NOTAMS reported. Filed IFR flight plan, and departed pdk. We could not pick up the NDB approaching bowln, so asked atlanta approach control if any NOTAMS for rgd NDB. Controller replied 'no NOTAMS,' we were in VMC, so continued to airport VFR after canceling IFR, no answer on unicom frequency -- overhead airport observed 'X' on each end of concrete runway. Observed aircraft on ramp and no 'X' on turf runway, so landed on turf runway, departing. 5 min after takeoff, obtained IFR clearance back to peachtree and controller asked if we 'ever got the NDB.' after return to pdk, called FSS to advise them of closed runway and NDB problem. Briefer said the airport was closed by NOTAM. I checked the latest class ii NOTAMS and found a change to IFR takeoff procedure -- checked current airport facility -- no mention of closure of NDB or runway, let alone airport. I relied on the FSS to let me know of any current NOTAMS and they let me down. If I had self briefed from duat I would have seen this NOTAM and not filed IFR to a closed airport. The controller did not know of the closure. What is the NOTAM system doing if controllers and FSS people don't know what's going on? I felt I had all available information about the flight, but wasn't informed of a very serious planning problem. I see 2 human factors problems: a) failure of FSS briefed to inform me that my destination was closed. B) approach controller was not aware of a NAVAID shutdown. A problem also exists with the charting, airport/facility directory, class ii NOTAMS, and distribution, why were none of these updated?

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN IFR TRAINING FLT FILES, FLIES AND LANDS AT A CLOSED ARPT.

Narrative: PLANNED IFR XCOUNTRY FLT FROM PDK-RGD, STUDENT OBTAINED STANDARD WX BRIEFING FROM MACON FSS AT XA50L OCT/XX/94, NO ACTIVE NOTAMS RPTED. FILED IFR FLT PLAN, AND DEPARTED PDK. WE COULD NOT PICK UP THE NDB APCHING BOWLN, SO ASKED ATLANTA APCH CTL IF ANY NOTAMS FOR RGD NDB. CTLR REPLIED 'NO NOTAMS,' WE WERE IN VMC, SO CONTINUED TO ARPT VFR AFTER CANCELING IFR, NO ANSWER ON UNICOM FREQ -- OVERHEAD ARPT OBSERVED 'X' ON EACH END OF CONCRETE RWY. OBSERVED ACFT ON RAMP AND NO 'X' ON TURF RWY, SO LANDED ON TURF RWY, DEPARTING. 5 MIN AFTER TKOF, OBTAINED IFR CLRNC BACK TO PEACHTREE AND CTLR ASKED IF WE 'EVER GOT THE NDB.' AFTER RETURN TO PDK, CALLED FSS TO ADVISE THEM OF CLOSED RWY AND NDB PROB. BRIEFER SAID THE ARPT WAS CLOSED BY NOTAM. I CHKED THE LATEST CLASS II NOTAMS AND FOUND A CHANGE TO IFR TKOF PROC -- CHKED CURRENT ARPT FACILITY -- NO MENTION OF CLOSURE OF NDB OR RWY, LET ALONE ARPT. I RELIED ON THE FSS TO LET ME KNOW OF ANY CURRENT NOTAMS AND THEY LET ME DOWN. IF I HAD SELF BRIEFED FROM DUAT I WOULD HAVE SEEN THIS NOTAM AND NOT FILED IFR TO A CLOSED ARPT. THE CTLR DID NOT KNOW OF THE CLOSURE. WHAT IS THE NOTAM SYS DOING IF CTLRS AND FSS PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON? I FELT I HAD ALL AVAILABLE INFO ABOUT THE FLT, BUT WASN'T INFORMED OF A VERY SERIOUS PLANNING PROB. I SEE 2 HUMAN FACTORS PROBS: A) FAILURE OF FSS BRIEFED TO INFORM ME THAT MY DEST WAS CLOSED. B) APCH CTLR WAS NOT AWARE OF A NAVAID SHUTDOWN. A PROB ALSO EXISTS WITH THE CHARTING, ARPT/FACILITY DIRECTORY, CLASS II NOTAMS, AND DISTRIBUTION, WHY WERE NONE OF THESE UPDATED?

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.