Narrative:

While being vectored for visual approach to 06C (chicago/schaumburg, which does not have a published IAP, instrument approach procedure), I observed a low cloud bank over the airport, which was not forecasted. I would be unable to descend under the cloud bank and maintain VFR minimums. Because 06C is close to the ord class B, I had canceled IFR 1 min prior, to allow further descent. On observing the cloud deck, I contacted approach control, who cleared me for visual approach to runway 33 at dpa, approximately 10 mi southwest. I contacted the tower, but mistakenly began lining up for an approach to runway 15. Tower advised that I was lined up for the reciprocal runway, and I entered right downwind for runway 33. Because I was too close to the runway, I overshot my turn to final and had to maneuver to line up with centerline. I landed a little long, but stopped well short of the end of the runway. After being told by tower to exit and taxi to parking, I failed to contact ground control. This happened at the end of the final leg of a trip lasting 12 hours over 2 days, leaving me fatigued. Unforecast IFR with no WX reporting or IAP at the destination led to an unplanned diversion, leaving little time to properly prepare for the approach. Corrective actions: pilot rest, double checking runway assignment, check WX beyond destination. Note: FSS made no mention of IFR during an in-flight WX briefing 45 mins prior to landing.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FATIGUED IFR PLT CANCELS IFR, ENCOUNTERS WX, DIVERTS TO ANOTHER ARPT, LINES UP FOR WRONG RWY, IS CORRECTED BY TWR AND SUCCESSFULLY LANDS LONG ON CORRECT RWY, BUT FORGETS TO CONTACT GND CTLR.

Narrative: WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR VISUAL APCH TO 06C (CHICAGO/SCHAUMBURG, WHICH DOES NOT HAVE A PUBLISHED IAP, INST APCH PROC), I OBSERVED A LOW CLOUD BANK OVER THE ARPT, WHICH WAS NOT FORECASTED. I WOULD BE UNABLE TO DSND UNDER THE CLOUD BANK AND MAINTAIN VFR MINIMUMS. BECAUSE 06C IS CLOSE TO THE ORD CLASS B, I HAD CANCELED IFR 1 MIN PRIOR, TO ALLOW FURTHER DSCNT. ON OBSERVING THE CLOUD DECK, I CONTACTED APCH CTL, WHO CLRED ME FOR VISUAL APCH TO RWY 33 AT DPA, APPROX 10 MI SW. I CONTACTED THE TWR, BUT MISTAKENLY BEGAN LINING UP FOR AN APCH TO RWY 15. TWR ADVISED THAT I WAS LINED UP FOR THE RECIPROCAL RWY, AND I ENTERED R DOWNWIND FOR RWY 33. BECAUSE I WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE RWY, I OVERSHOT MY TURN TO FINAL AND HAD TO MANEUVER TO LINE UP WITH CTRLINE. I LANDED A LITTLE LONG, BUT STOPPED WELL SHORT OF THE END OF THE RWY. AFTER BEING TOLD BY TWR TO EXIT AND TAXI TO PARKING, I FAILED TO CONTACT GND CTL. THIS HAPPENED AT THE END OF THE FINAL LEG OF A TRIP LASTING 12 HRS OVER 2 DAYS, LEAVING ME FATIGUED. UNFORECAST IFR WITH NO WX RPTING OR IAP AT THE DEST LED TO AN UNPLANNED DIVERSION, LEAVING LITTLE TIME TO PROPERLY PREPARE FOR THE APCH. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: PLT REST, DOUBLE CHKING RWY ASSIGNMENT, CHK WX BEYOND DEST. NOTE: FSS MADE NO MENTION OF IFR DURING AN INFLT WX BRIEFING 45 MINS PRIOR TO 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.