Approach to wrong airport in a night operation.

Attributes
ACN	312927
Time
Date	199508
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 7400 msl bound upper : 7400
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : den
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other landing : go around
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	312929
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	312933
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On the sayge 1 arrival to den approaching 'hoker' at 11000 ft (and which is about 4 mi northeast of the front range airport), we were in and out of numerous thunderstorms. Asked if we had field in sight, we replied in affirmative and accepted visual approach clearance to runway 35L at den. As we turned on a right base, we entered a small rain shower and lost visual contact with field. Shortly after reacquiring a runway, we realized it to be the front range airport and broke off the approach -- climbed to 8000 ft and requested radar vectors to runway 35L at den -- while an uneventful landing was made. Problem arose due to the late hour, long day, sense of familiarity, WX, fatigue. Accepted visual approach when radar vector to final would have been more prudent. Recognized problem by reference to localizer CDI, and GS indication and visual reference cues 'just didn't look right.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH TO WRONG ARPT IN A NIGHT OP.

Narrative: ON THE SAYGE 1 ARR TO DEN APCHING 'HOKER' AT 11000 FT (AND WHICH IS ABOUT 4 MI NE OF THE FRONT RANGE ARPT), WE WERE IN AND OUT OF NUMEROUS TSTMS. ASKED IF WE HAD FIELD IN SIGHT, WE REPLIED IN AFFIRMATIVE AND ACCEPTED VISUAL APCH CLRNC TO RWY 35L AT DEN. AS WE TURNED ON A R BASE, WE ENTERED A SMALL RAIN SHOWER AND LOST VISUAL CONTACT WITH FIELD. SHORTLY AFTER REACQUIRING A RWY, WE REALIZED IT TO BE THE FRONT RANGE ARPT AND BROKE OFF THE APCH -- CLBED TO 8000 FT AND REQUESTED RADAR VECTORS TO RWY 35L AT DEN -- WHILE AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG WAS MADE. PROB AROSE DUE TO THE LATE HR, LONG DAY, SENSE OF FAMILIARITY, WX, FATIGUE. ACCEPTED VISUAL APCH WHEN RADAR VECTOR TO FINAL WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PRUDENT. RECOGNIZED PROB BY REF TO LOC CDI, AND GS INDICATION AND VISUAL REF CUES 'JUST DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT.'

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.