Pilot of an atx cargo twin made a visual approach to the wrong airport.

Attributes
ACN	318682
Time
Date	199510
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : alb
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : sch tower : alb artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	other other : other pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 2900 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	318682
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I advised ATC that I had the airport of intended landing in sight. What I actually saw was a nearby airport with a similar runway confign. I proceeded to make a visual approach to the other airport after being cleared for the visual at my destination airport. Upon arriving on final, I realized I was at the wrong airport and initiated a go around. The problem was compounded by the fact that I had an intermittently operating radio and I did not hear the tower controller when he told me about the situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN ATX CARGO TWIN MADE A VISUAL APCH TO THE WRONG ARPT.

Narrative: I ADVISED ATC THAT I HAD THE ARPT OF INTENDED LNDG IN SIGHT. WHAT I ACTUALLY SAW WAS A NEARBY ARPT WITH A SIMILAR RWY CONFIGN. I PROCEEDED TO MAKE A VISUAL APCH TO THE OTHER ARPT AFTER BEING CLRED FOR THE VISUAL AT MY DEST ARPT. UPON ARRIVING ON FINAL, I REALIZED I WAS AT THE WRONG ARPT AND INITIATED A GAR. THE PROB WAS COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT I HAD AN INTERMITTENTLY OPERATING RADIO AND I DID NOT HEAR THE TWR CTLR WHEN HE TOLD ME ABOUT THE SIT.

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.