CE560 captain almost hit a tower on a night visual approach to runway 31 at rdg.

Attributes
ACN	494920
Time
Date	200012
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rdg.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rdg.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Citation V
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival : vfr
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : rdg.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna Single Piston Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 3100 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	494920
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot conflict : ground less severe ground encounters other non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

We were on an IFR flight plan from teb to rdg. As we approached rdg from the northeast at 3000 ft, we were cleared by rdg approach for a visual approach to runway 31. We were on approximately a 130 degree heading searching for the end of runway 31. When we picked out the end of runway 31, we were about 2-3 mi southeast of the airport. We then initiated a descending right turn toward the end of runway 31. At that moment, I happened to look out the left window only to see a tower dangerously close to the plane. After getting on the ground and looking at the approach plate, we realized we had failed to notice 2 towers that were at 1300-1400 ft approximately 3 mi east of rdg. Pilot error caused the problem and a couple of simple actions would have eliminated the problem: 1) more diligence by the crew. 2)should have asked for an instrument approach because both pilots were unfamiliar with the field. 3) recognition that night flying under all circumstances is inherently more dangerous than daytime flying. 4) warning from rdg approach about dangerous terrain. 5) predep briefing by crew of destination airport about expected approachs and MSA's and obstacles in or near the air traffic area. We had 1 other distraction. We were quickly overtaking a single engine cessna and we were looking for the traffic and the end of the runway at the same time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CE560 CAPT ALMOST HIT A TWR ON A NIGHT VISUAL APCH TO RWY 31 AT RDG.

Narrative: WE WERE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM TEB TO RDG. AS WE APCHED RDG FROM THE NE AT 3000 FT, WE WERE CLRED BY RDG APCH FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 31. WE WERE ON APPROX A 130 DEG HDG SEARCHING FOR THE END OF RWY 31. WHEN WE PICKED OUT THE END OF RWY 31, WE WERE ABOUT 2-3 MI SE OF THE ARPT. WE THEN INITIATED A DSNDING R TURN TOWARD THE END OF RWY 31. AT THAT MOMENT, I HAPPENED TO LOOK OUT THE L WINDOW ONLY TO SEE A TWR DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE PLANE. AFTER GETTING ON THE GND AND LOOKING AT THE APCH PLATE, WE REALIZED WE HAD FAILED TO NOTICE 2 TOWERS THAT WERE AT 1300-1400 FT APPROX 3 MI E OF RDG. PLT ERROR CAUSED THE PROB AND A COUPLE OF SIMPLE ACTIONS WOULD HAVE ELIMINATED THE PROB: 1) MORE DILIGENCE BY THE CREW. 2)SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR AN INST APCH BECAUSE BOTH PLTS WERE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE FIELD. 3) RECOGNITION THAT NIGHT FLYING UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES IS INHERENTLY MORE DANGEROUS THAN DAYTIME FLYING. 4) WARNING FROM RDG APCH ABOUT DANGEROUS TERRAIN. 5) PREDEP BRIEFING BY CREW OF DEST ARPT ABOUT EXPECTED APCHS AND MSA'S AND OBSTACLES IN OR NEAR THE ATA. WE HAD 1 OTHER DISTR. WE WERE QUICKLY OVERTAKING A SINGLE ENG CESSNA AND WE WERE LOOKING FOR THE TFC AND THE END OF THE RWY AT THE SAME TIME.

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.