Narrative:

PIC called mgm approach and received transponder code: no vectors. Problem developed in #2 communication (in use for mgm approach) due to volume rheostat either inadvertently being turned down or working its way down due to looseness. PIC and I realized loss of communication before entering class D. PIC performed 180 degree turn while I worked radios. Turned volume up, PIC called approach again and got response indicating approach was attempting to contact us for a few mins. Approach vectored us 'to the east/northeast,' presumably for traffic evidence and to intercept localizer for mgm runway 28 (PIC had requested low approach for runway 28). Flew almost directly over mgm VOR, continued for a few mins then directed to turn to 320 degrees and to report airport in sight. PIC executed, very shortly we were heading almost directly to a runway, on a very long final. I pointed out airport to PIC, we turned slightly, and I resumed monitoring localizer/GS and marker beacons (tied in for ILS runway 28). Within 2 mins mgm approach calls and asks PIC the heading flying. PIC responds '33.' mgm approach announces we're lined up for maxwell AFB and requests a turn to 285 degrees and to maintain 2000 ft. Mgm approach also informs us that 2 F16's are descending through 2500 ft (cloud base at 2500 ft). PIC turns to 285 degrees, I watch for traffic, I got traffic in sight and notice PIC has descended through 1500 ft (pattern altitude at maxwell presumably is approximately 1400 ft, F16's announce they're entering downwind). We were slightly below F16's and descending. I suggested to PIC we break off attempts at approach for runway 28 mgm and head back to 67A. I also told PIC we should climb to 2000 ft since mgm approach assigned us that. PIC complied. Within a few mins mgm approach called requesting PIC contact tower after landing and to copy phone number. Flight terminated without incident at 67A shortly thereafter, and PIC complied with request to call mgm tower. Problem initiated by communication issue: vectors towards maxwell by ATC contributed, as did PIC unfamiliarity with area and my attention to inside avionics rather than outside (although I wasn't flying). Realizing we were not lined up at mgm runway 28 would have accounted for the erroneous localizer readings I was receiving.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 2 C172 PLTS, BEING VECTORED FOR AN ILS APCH TO MGM, SAW MAXWELLL AFB (MFX) INSTEAD AND MISTAKENLY PROCEED TO THE WRONG ARPT.

Narrative: PIC CALLED MGM APCH AND RECEIVED XPONDER CODE: NO VECTORS. PROB DEVELOPED IN #2 COM (IN USE FOR MGM APCH) DUE TO VOLUME RHEOSTAT EITHER INADVERTENTLY BEING TURNED DOWN OR WORKING ITS WAY DOWN DUE TO LOOSENESS. PIC AND I REALIZED LOSS OF COM BEFORE ENTERING CLASS D. PIC PERFORMED 180 DEG TURN WHILE I WORKED RADIOS. TURNED VOLUME UP, PIC CALLED APCH AGAIN AND GOT RESPONSE INDICATING APCH WAS ATTEMPTING TO CONTACT US FOR A FEW MINS. APCH VECTORED US 'TO THE E/NE,' PRESUMABLY FOR TFC EVIDENCE AND TO INTERCEPT LOC FOR MGM RWY 28 (PIC HAD REQUESTED LOW APCH FOR RWY 28). FLEW ALMOST DIRECTLY OVER MGM VOR, CONTINUED FOR A FEW MINS THEN DIRECTED TO TURN TO 320 DEGS AND TO RPT ARPT IN SIGHT. PIC EXECUTED, VERY SHORTLY WE WERE HEADING ALMOST DIRECTLY TO A RWY, ON A VERY LONG FINAL. I POINTED OUT ARPT TO PIC, WE TURNED SLIGHTLY, AND I RESUMED MONITORING LOC/GS AND MARKER BEACONS (TIED IN FOR ILS RWY 28). WITHIN 2 MINS MGM APCH CALLS AND ASKS PIC THE HEADING FLYING. PIC RESPONDS '33.' MGM APCH ANNOUNCES WE'RE LINED UP FOR MAXWELL AFB AND REQUESTS A TURN TO 285 DEGS AND TO MAINTAIN 2000 FT. MGM APCH ALSO INFORMS US THAT 2 F16'S ARE DSNDING THROUGH 2500 FT (CLOUD BASE AT 2500 FT). PIC TURNS TO 285 DEGS, I WATCH FOR TFC, I GOT TFC IN SIGHT AND NOTICE PIC HAS DSNDED THROUGH 1500 FT (PATTERN ALT AT MAXWELL PRESUMABLY IS APPROX 1400 FT, F16'S ANNOUNCE THEY'RE ENTERING DOWNWIND). WE WERE SLIGHTLY BELOW F16'S AND DSNDING. I SUGGESTED TO PIC WE BREAK OFF ATTEMPTS AT APCH FOR RWY 28 MGM AND HEAD BACK TO 67A. I ALSO TOLD PIC WE SHOULD CLB TO 2000 FT SINCE MGM APCH ASSIGNED US THAT. PIC COMPLIED. WITHIN A FEW MINS MGM APCH CALLED REQUESTING PIC CONTACT TWR AFTER LNDG AND TO COPY PHONE NUMBER. FLT TERMINATED WITHOUT INCIDENT AT 67A SHORTLY THEREAFTER, AND PIC COMPLIED WITH REQUEST TO CALL MGM TWR. PROB INITIATED BY COM ISSUE: VECTORS TOWARDS MAXWELL BY ATC CONTRIBUTED, AS DID PIC UNFAMILIARITY WITH AREA AND MY ATTN TO INSIDE AVIONICS RATHER THAN OUTSIDE (ALTHOUGH I WASN'T FLYING). REALIZING WE WERE NOT LINED UP AT MGM RWY 28 WOULD HAVE ACCOUNTED FOR THE ERRONEOUS LOC READINGS I WAS RECEIVING.

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.