Narrative:

I was approaching cha from bowling green on V234 for a landing at cha. The controller told me to turn left to 100 degrees. I reported that I had the airport in sight. The controller canceled the course change to 100 degrees. I had been cleared for a visual approach to runway 20, my heading was about 160 degrees. I am not familiar with the cha airport and assumed I was heading to runway 20, but failed to check my compass heading. I was on approach to runway 15. I knew I would be making almost a straight-in approach on my route from bwg on V234. At about 4 mi out, the controller told me I was on the approach to runway 15, told me to turn left to 100 degrees for runway 20 and was cleared to land on runway 20. After landing, the controller called me and reported that there were 2 other planes in the air also making an approach and our separation was closer than it should have been. I never saw the other planes but I heard communications for them and knew were near the altitude. I expected vectors to the runway, but didn't receive any. If I would have checked my heading sooner I would have discovered my error. The controller was polite and courteous when I was called and informed of the situation that existed as I have reported. I do not expect it to be reported and probably no need for this report, but believe I should send one just in case it is.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT IN C172 IFR TO CHA RPTS ARPT IN SIGHT AND IS CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 20. THE PLT WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE ARPT AND LINED UP ON RWY 15. THE CTLR REVECTORED THE PLT TO RWY 20.

Narrative: I WAS APCHING CHA FROM BOWLING GREEN ON V234 FOR A LNDG AT CHA. THE CTLR TOLD ME TO TURN L TO 100 DEGS. I RPTED THAT I HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT. THE CTLR CANCELED THE COURSE CHANGE TO 100 DEGS. I HAD BEEN CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 20, MY HDG WAS ABOUT 160 DEGS. I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE CHA ARPT AND ASSUMED I WAS HDG TO RWY 20, BUT FAILED TO CHK MY COMPASS HDG. I WAS ON APCH TO RWY 15. I KNEW I WOULD BE MAKING ALMOST A STRAIGHT-IN APCH ON MY RTE FROM BWG ON V234. AT ABOUT 4 MI OUT, THE CTLR TOLD ME I WAS ON THE APCH TO RWY 15, TOLD ME TO TURN L TO 100 DEGS FOR RWY 20 AND WAS CLRED TO LAND ON RWY 20. AFTER LNDG, THE CTLR CALLED ME AND RPTED THAT THERE WERE 2 OTHER PLANES IN THE AIR ALSO MAKING AN APCH AND OUR SEPARATION WAS CLOSER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. I NEVER SAW THE OTHER PLANES BUT I HEARD COMS FOR THEM AND KNEW WERE NEAR THE ALT. I EXPECTED VECTORS TO THE RWY, BUT DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY. IF I WOULD HAVE CHKED MY HDG SOONER I WOULD HAVE DISCOVERED MY ERROR. THE CTLR WAS POLITE AND COURTEOUS WHEN I WAS CALLED AND INFORMED OF THE SIT THAT EXISTED AS I HAVE RPTED. I DO NOT EXPECT IT TO BE RPTED AND PROBABLY NO NEED FOR THIS RPT, BUT BELIEVE I SHOULD SEND ONE JUST IN CASE IT IS.

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.