A B737-800 flight crew performs an approach to a wrong airport 12 NM southwest of gsp, sc.

Attributes
ACN	436140
Time
Date	199905
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gsp.airport
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : gsp.tracon tower : ord.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-800
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time type : 35
ASRS Report	436140
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 7500 flight time type : 35
ASRS Report	436364
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : efis - map - loc other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned airspace flight crew : returned to intended course flight crew : exited penetrated airspace flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : executed missed approach
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Company Airspace Structure Aircraft ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared visual approach gsp runway 3 from southwest of field, 25 NM. Distraction by fuel imbal, temporary loss of situational awareness with respect to gsp and donaldson air center, and lined up at donaldson runway 5, approximately 4 mi out realized not gsp. Missed approach in VFR and climbed to 2500 ft. Flew on to gsp visual runway 3. Approach called to warn us after initiation of missed approach. Human factors: fuel imbal distraction. EFIS/missed approach/localizer helped regain situational awareness.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-800 FLC PERFORMS AN APCH TO A WRONG ARPT 12 NM SW OF GSP, SC.

Narrative: CLRED VISUAL APCH GSP RWY 3 FROM SW OF FIELD, 25 NM. DISTR BY FUEL IMBAL, TEMPORARY LOSS OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS WITH RESPECT TO GSP AND DONALDSON AIR CTR, AND LINED UP AT DONALDSON RWY 5, APPROX 4 MI OUT REALIZED NOT GSP. MISSED APCH IN VFR AND CLBED TO 2500 FT. FLEW ON TO GSP VISUAL RWY 3. APCH CALLED TO WARN US AFTER INITIATION OF MISSED APCH. HUMAN FACTORS: FUEL IMBAL DISTR. EFIS/MISSED APCH/LOC HELPED REGAIN SITUATIONAL AWARENESS.

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.