Narrative:

IFR in IMC to N89. Only had GPS approachs, aircraft doesn't have IFR-certified GPS. First time in this area. Routing up V162 to huo at 5000 ft in mod tb. N89 in valley with steep sides, beyond N82, neither has AWOS. So obtained 'sullivan county' AWOS on 134.02-C/base 2500 ft. Elected to fly VOR/DME to 'sullivan county-wurtsboro' (N82). Made this decision 10 miles before huo, advised nyc approach of intent to fly VOR/DME to 'sullivan county,' get below C/base, then VFR to N89. ATC cleared me for VOR/DME approach to 'sullivan county.' after passing huo, flew 039 radial as charted, started descent to 2000 ft, knowing I would break-out around 2500 ft. Descending thru 3500 ft in IMC, approach queried position, stated I was n-e of huo, should be on the 344 degree radial for 'sullivan county,' say intentions. I replied that I was centered on 039 degree radial, on VOR/DME approach to wurtsboro, also named sullivan county on my approach plate. Approach realized I was descending to wurtsboro, and re-cleared me without hassle. Broke out at 2900 ft, continued VFR to N89. Checked approach plates, enroute charts, after flight. Commercial chart has VOR/DME to 'monticello-sullivan co,' 'monticello,''wurtsboro-sullivan county.' L25 shows 'monticello,' 'sullivan co international,' and 'wurtsboro-sullivan county.' nyc sectional shows same. 'First time in area' pilot in IMC, conversing with nyc approach about 'sullivan county,' didn't realize there are two. Tip-off was AWOS for wrong airport, but in heat of moment (incl defective second VOR and GPS), I left that tip-off undiscovered. This is a trap waiting to snare unsuspecting pilots. Suggest these airports are distinguished by ATC using unique city names, not name that is shared by 2 airports.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA28 PLT INITIATED AN APCH TO ONE ARPT AFTER ATC HAD CLRED HIM FOR AN APCH TO ANOTHER.

Narrative: IFR IN IMC TO N89. ONLY HAD GPS APCHS, ACFT DOESN'T HAVE IFR-CERTIFIED GPS. FIRST TIME IN THIS AREA. ROUTING UP V162 TO HUO AT 5000 FT IN MOD TB. N89 IN VALLEY WITH STEEP SIDES, BEYOND N82, NEITHER HAS AWOS. SO OBTAINED 'SULLIVAN COUNTY' AWOS ON 134.02-C/BASE 2500 FT. ELECTED TO FLY VOR/DME TO 'SULLIVAN COUNTY-WURTSBORO' (N82). MADE THIS DECISION 10 MILES BEFORE HUO, ADVISED NYC APCH OF INTENT TO FLY VOR/DME TO 'SULLIVAN COUNTY,' GET BELOW C/BASE, THEN VFR TO N89. ATC CLEARED ME FOR VOR/DME APCH TO 'SULLIVAN COUNTY.' AFTER PASSING HUO, FLEW 039 RADIAL AS CHARTED, STARTED DSCNT TO 2000 FT, KNOWING I WOULD BREAK-OUT AROUND 2500 FT. DSNDING THRU 3500 FT IN IMC, APCH QUERIED POSITION, STATED I WAS N-E OF HUO, SHOULD BE ON THE 344 DEG RADIAL FOR 'SULLIVAN COUNTY,' SAY INTENTIONS. I REPLIED THAT I WAS CENTERED ON 039 DEG RADIAL, ON VOR/DME APCH TO WURTSBORO, ALSO NAMED SULLIVAN COUNTY ON MY APCH PLATE. APCH REALIZED I WAS DSNDING TO WURTSBORO, AND RE-CLEARED ME WITHOUT HASSLE. BROKE OUT AT 2900 FT, CONTINUED VFR TO N89. CHECKED APCH PLATES, ENROUTE CHARTS, AFTER FLT. COMMERCIAL CHART HAS VOR/DME TO 'MONTICELLO-SULLIVAN CO,' 'MONTICELLO,''WURTSBORO-SULLIVAN COUNTY.' L25 SHOWS 'MONTICELLO,' 'SULLIVAN CO INTL,' AND 'WURTSBORO-SULLIVAN COUNTY.' NYC SECTIONAL SHOWS SAME. 'FIRST TIME IN AREA' PLT IN IMC, CONVERSING WITH NYC APCH ABOUT 'SULLIVAN COUNTY,' DIDN'T REALIZE THERE ARE TWO. TIP-OFF WAS AWOS FOR WRONG ARPT, BUT IN HEAT OF MOMENT (INCL DEFECTIVE SECOND VOR AND GPS), I LEFT THAT TIP-OFF UNDISCOVERED. THIS IS A TRAP WAITING TO SNARE UNSUSPECTING PLTS. SUGGEST THESE ARPTS ARE DISTINGUISHED BY ATC USING UNIQUE CITY NAMES, NOT NAME THAT IS SHARED BY 2 ARPTS.

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.