Narrative:

Under VFR conditions, requested vectors from beale AFB for ILS 15 approach, lhm. Preflight briefing/rancho murietta revealed no NOTAMS and ILS 15 at lincoln operational (108.75). Following vectors, I intercepted outbound 108 degree radial marysville VOR (110.8) planning to intercept codey intersection when localizer moved to centerline. (I did not identify localizer and morse code, but did listen to lincoln AWOS 2 times). I did not intercept lincoln localizer, but continued on (108 degree radial marysville VOR 110.8) even though my LORAN and hand-held GPS revealed I passed through approach. Within 1-2 mins at 2000 ft, I idented visually what I thought was runway 15 at lhm -- even though localizer now showed yellow flag. At approximately 1 mi from threshold, runway 16 showed clearly and to my horror, I realized I was approaching runway 16L at smf airport. I immediately performed a sharp turn to east, climbed to 2000 ft and called sac tower on 119.1 and informed them of my mistake. They gave me a phone number to tower which I called after landing at lincoln 15 mins later. They were as upset as I was horrified and embarrassed. Apparently they were landing aircraft on runway 34L&right and T-33 doing practice approachs. Fortunately, there were no aircraft in vicinity at this time. They will notify FSDO. Although I have approximately 200 hours of instrument time, I have scheduled instruction at stockton -- cfii and FAA safety instruction. I am essentially a perfectionist and do not want to ever make a mistake again, especially one that could have been catastrophic.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT INCORRECTLY ASSUMES INSTS ARE INCORRECT AND MAKES A WRONG ARPT APCH.

Narrative: UNDER VFR CONDITIONS, REQUESTED VECTORS FROM BEALE AFB FOR ILS 15 APCH, LHM. PREFLT BRIEFING/RANCHO MURIETTA REVEALED NO NOTAMS AND ILS 15 AT LINCOLN OPERATIONAL (108.75). FOLLOWING VECTORS, I INTERCEPTED OUTBOUND 108 DEG RADIAL MARYSVILLE VOR (110.8) PLANNING TO INTERCEPT CODEY INTXN WHEN LOC MOVED TO CTRLINE. (I DID NOT IDENT LOC AND MORSE CODE, BUT DID LISTEN TO LINCOLN AWOS 2 TIMES). I DID NOT INTERCEPT LINCOLN LOC, BUT CONTINUED ON (108 DEG RADIAL MARYSVILLE VOR 110.8) EVEN THOUGH MY LORAN AND HAND-HELD GPS REVEALED I PASSED THROUGH APCH. WITHIN 1-2 MINS AT 2000 FT, I IDENTED VISUALLY WHAT I THOUGHT WAS RWY 15 AT LHM -- EVEN THOUGH LOC NOW SHOWED YELLOW FLAG. AT APPROX 1 MI FROM THRESHOLD, RWY 16 SHOWED CLRLY AND TO MY HORROR, I REALIZED I WAS APCHING RWY 16L AT SMF ARPT. I IMMEDIATELY PERFORMED A SHARP TURN TO E, CLBED TO 2000 FT AND CALLED SAC TWR ON 119.1 AND INFORMED THEM OF MY MISTAKE. THEY GAVE ME A PHONE NUMBER TO TWR WHICH I CALLED AFTER LNDG AT LINCOLN 15 MINS LATER. THEY WERE AS UPSET AS I WAS HORRIFIED AND EMBARRASSED. APPARENTLY THEY WERE LNDG ACFT ON RWY 34L&R AND T-33 DOING PRACTICE APCHS. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO ACFT IN VICINITY AT THIS TIME. THEY WILL NOTIFY FSDO. ALTHOUGH I HAVE APPROX 200 HRS OF INST TIME, I HAVE SCHEDULED INSTRUCTION AT STOCKTON -- CFII AND FAA SAFETY INSTRUCTION. I AM ESSENTIALLY A PERFECTIONIST AND DO NOT WANT TO EVER MAKE A MISTAKE AGAIN, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC.

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.