Pilot of C172 makes approach to wrong airport. On sighting the runway numbers he exits immediately.

Attributes
ACN	381166
Time
Date	199709
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : day
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 600 msl bound upper : 600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : day tower : ffo
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 485 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	381166
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying to wright patterson, arriving planes were to arrive at mgy and fly northeast along interstate 675 to land on runway 23L reporting on base for runway 23L. I arrived over mgy at 2500 ft MSL and was using sectional map and GPS for navigation. At that time GPS lost satellite lock. I considered that no problem as I was navigation also by map. I rechked map for interstate 675, but could not find. Interstate 75 was under me and I looked straight ahead, seeing big airport, thought it was wright patterson. As I was cleared to base of runway 23L at wright patterson, I continued. As I turned base I was cleared to land at wright patterson. I didn't know I was at wrong airport until I saw runway 24 instead of runway 23. I descended to about 200 ft. When I discovered my mistake, I then got out of there as soon as possible. In my 40 yrs flying I have not made this kind of mistake. I am sorry.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF C172 MAKES APCH TO WRONG ARPT. ON SIGHTING THE RWY NUMBERS HE EXITS IMMEDIATELY.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING TO WRIGHT PATTERSON, ARRIVING PLANES WERE TO ARRIVE AT MGY AND FLY NE ALONG INTERSTATE 675 TO LAND ON RWY 23L RPTING ON BASE FOR RWY 23L. I ARRIVED OVER MGY AT 2500 FT MSL AND WAS USING SECTIONAL MAP AND GPS FOR NAV. AT THAT TIME GPS LOST SATELLITE LOCK. I CONSIDERED THAT NO PROB AS I WAS NAV ALSO BY MAP. I RECHKED MAP FOR INTERSTATE 675, BUT COULD NOT FIND. INTERSTATE 75 WAS UNDER ME AND I LOOKED STRAIGHT AHEAD, SEEING BIG ARPT, THOUGHT IT WAS WRIGHT PATTERSON. AS I WAS CLRED TO BASE OF RWY 23L AT WRIGHT PATTERSON, I CONTINUED. AS I TURNED BASE I WAS CLRED TO LAND AT WRIGHT PATTERSON. I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS AT WRONG ARPT UNTIL I SAW RWY 24 INSTEAD OF RWY 23. I DSNDED TO ABOUT 200 FT. WHEN I DISCOVERED MY MISTAKE, I THEN GOT OUT OF THERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IN MY 40 YRS FLYING I HAVE NOT MADE THIS KIND OF MISTAKE. I AM SORRY.

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.