Narrative:

On aug/xa/98, I departed Q68, flew to sbp, then on to O68. When I reached mariposa, I was notified by the unicom operator that the airport was closed. I circled the airport and could not determine why the airport was closed as the runway was in good condition, there was no activity, no people, and no airplanes, and the taxiway was clear. I called unicom for clarification and was told only that 'the airport was closed until XA30 and that I was to go on to merced on Q68 or some other airport. These 2 closest airports were 1/2 hour away.' I replied that I was concerned about my fuel level and the accuracy of my gauges, and uncomfortable with continuing flight. I had planned to refuel at mariposa. I made a normal approach and landing without incident. After landing, I checked the gas and determined I had 11 gallons of fuel remaining. Prior to departure earlier in the day, I had called WX briefing but did not mention that I would be landing at mariposa to refuel. I told WX brief that Q68, which is 20 mins from O68, was my final destination. 5 mins after I landed, a helicopter landed with no unicom report of airport closure nor any confrontation about landing. Corrective actions: I could have mentioned all landing sites to WX brief. The unicom operator should not be demanding specific actions contrary to pilot's judgement or decision in a given situation considering information provided. Airports should not have double standards for closures -- ok for helicopter but not for plane to land. Keep airport open if conditions or activity do not presently prohibit safe landing.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT IN SMA ACFT DEPARTED Q68, THEN FLEW TO SBP, AND THEN TO O68. AT O68, THE UNICOM OPERATOR ADVISED THE ARPT WAS CLOSED UNTIL XA30 WITH NO REASON GIVEN FOR THE CLOSURE. THE PLT WAS LOW ON GAS, CIRCLED THE ARPT AND LANDED.

Narrative: ON AUG/XA/98, I DEPARTED Q68, FLEW TO SBP, THEN ON TO O68. WHEN I REACHED MARIPOSA, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE UNICOM OPERATOR THAT THE ARPT WAS CLOSED. I CIRCLED THE ARPT AND COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE ARPT WAS CLOSED AS THE RWY WAS IN GOOD CONDITION, THERE WAS NO ACTIVITY, NO PEOPLE, AND NO AIRPLANES, AND THE TXWY WAS CLR. I CALLED UNICOM FOR CLARIFICATION AND WAS TOLD ONLY THAT 'THE ARPT WAS CLOSED UNTIL XA30 AND THAT I WAS TO GO ON TO MERCED ON Q68 OR SOME OTHER ARPT. THESE 2 CLOSEST ARPTS WERE 1/2 HR AWAY.' I REPLIED THAT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT MY FUEL LEVEL AND THE ACCURACY OF MY GAUGES, AND UNCOMFORTABLE WITH CONTINUING FLT. I HAD PLANNED TO REFUEL AT MARIPOSA. I MADE A NORMAL APCH AND LNDG WITHOUT INCIDENT. AFTER LNDG, I CHKED THE GAS AND DETERMINED I HAD 11 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING. PRIOR TO DEP EARLIER IN THE DAY, I HAD CALLED WX BRIEFING BUT DID NOT MENTION THAT I WOULD BE LNDG AT MARIPOSA TO REFUEL. I TOLD WX BRIEF THAT Q68, WHICH IS 20 MINS FROM O68, WAS MY FINAL DEST. 5 MINS AFTER I LANDED, A HELI LANDED WITH NO UNICOM RPT OF ARPT CLOSURE NOR ANY CONFRONTATION ABOUT LNDG. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: I COULD HAVE MENTIONED ALL LNDG SITES TO WX BRIEF. THE UNICOM OPERATOR SHOULD NOT BE DEMANDING SPECIFIC ACTIONS CONTRARY TO PLT'S JUDGEMENT OR DECISION IN A GIVEN SIT CONSIDERING INFO PROVIDED. ARPTS SHOULD NOT HAVE DOUBLE STANDARDS FOR CLOSURES -- OK FOR HELI BUT NOT FOR PLANE TO LAND. KEEP ARPT OPEN IF CONDITIONS OR ACTIVITY DO NOT PRESENTLY PROHIBIT SAFE LNDG.

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.