A BE20 pilot became disoriented and landed, opposite direction, on the wrong runway.

Attributes
ACN	496930
Time
Date	200101
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ase.airport
State Reference	CO
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ase.tower
Make Model Name	Super King Air 200 HDC
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	landing : roll
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : ase.tower
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 8000
ASRS Report	496930
Person 2
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway incursion : landing without clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was cleared for a visual approach to runway 15 ase. However, wind favored runway 33. The aircraft landing before me was asked to remain east of centerline runway 15/33. I was told to follow that aircraft. I entered a circle approach to runway 33 (I was single pilot). I was concerned about an aircraft that was overflying airport (C172). My performance/judgement was more concerned looking outside and not in checking which runway was the active. In fact, the tower asked me 2 times (twice) my intentions. I stated I was landing runway 15, when in fact the runway I was circling to was runway 33. Had I looked at the approach plate, or even the airport diagram, I would have known I was going the wrong way. It was not until I started a circle base that I discovered my error. I just entered left downwind and landed. This was an event that caused me problems, but it shows a lack of judgement and overconfidence when landing at the same airport many times.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE20 PLT BECAME DISORIENTED AND LANDED, OPPOSITE DIRECTION, ON THE WRONG RWY.

Narrative: I WAS CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 15 ASE. HOWEVER, WIND FAVORED RWY 33. THE ACFT LNDG BEFORE ME WAS ASKED TO REMAIN E OF CTRLINE RWY 15/33. I WAS TOLD TO FOLLOW THAT ACFT. I ENTERED A CIRCLE APCH TO RWY 33 (I WAS SINGLE PLT). I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT AN ACFT THAT WAS OVERFLYING ARPT (C172). MY PERFORMANCE/JUDGEMENT WAS MORE CONCERNED LOOKING OUTSIDE AND NOT IN CHKING WHICH RWY WAS THE ACTIVE. IN FACT, THE TWR ASKED ME 2 TIMES (TWICE) MY INTENTIONS. I STATED I WAS LNDG RWY 15, WHEN IN FACT THE RWY I WAS CIRCLING TO WAS RWY 33. HAD I LOOKED AT THE APCH PLATE, OR EVEN THE ARPT DIAGRAM, I WOULD HAVE KNOWN I WAS GOING THE WRONG WAY. IT WAS NOT UNTIL I STARTED A CIRCLE BASE THAT I DISCOVERED MY ERROR. I JUST ENTERED L DOWNWIND AND LANDED. THIS WAS AN EVENT THAT CAUSED ME PROBS, BUT IT SHOWS A LACK OF JUDGEMENT AND OVERCONFIDENCE WHEN LNDG AT THE SAME ARPT MANY TIMES.

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.