Small aircraft on approach to center runway aligns with taxiway initially, then becomes oriented.

Attributes
ACN	327416
Time
Date	199601
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mem
State Reference	TN
Altitude	agl bound lower : 500 agl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mem
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 370 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	327416
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 500 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Airport
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

The name change of runway 36R to runway 36C was confusing when I reviewed the government approach plate and found 3 parallel runways. I wanted to find a center runway. When I queried the tower as to which runway I was lined up with, the controller said runway 36C. This was very confusing since I had actually lined up with the taxiway. When I saw the blue lights of the taxiway, I immediately took evasive action to correct the approach to runway 36C and made a safe landing there. My estimate of 500 ft missed contact with aircraft on the ground is based on my altimeter reading when I made the slight turn to get onto runway 36C. I never intended to land on the taxiway.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ON APCH TO CTR RWY ALIGNS WITH TXWY INITIALLY, THEN BECOMES ORIENTED.

Narrative: THE NAME CHANGE OF RWY 36R TO RWY 36C WAS CONFUSING WHEN I REVIEWED THE GOV APCH PLATE AND FOUND 3 PARALLEL RWYS. I WANTED TO FIND A CTR RWY. WHEN I QUERIED THE TWR AS TO WHICH RWY I WAS LINED UP WITH, THE CTLR SAID RWY 36C. THIS WAS VERY CONFUSING SINCE I HAD ACTUALLY LINED UP WITH THE TXWY. WHEN I SAW THE BLUE LIGHTS OF THE TXWY, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK EVASIVE ACTION TO CORRECT THE APCH TO RWY 36C AND MADE A SAFE LNDG THERE. MY ESTIMATE OF 500 FT MISSED CONTACT WITH ACFT ON THE GND IS BASED ON MY ALTIMETER READING WHEN I MADE THE SLIGHT TURN TO GET ONTO RWY 36C. I NEVER INTENDED TO LAND ON THE TXWY.

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.