Narrative:

Descending for aspen, co, shortly before XA00, we were given a clearance for a visual approach out of FL180. Several mins later, we were given the option of closing the flight plan airborne or a different frequency to close out on the ground. We acknowledged and were released to CTAF. When we checked in with CTAF, at least 2 other aircraft were taxiing for departure. We announced our position and intentions of landing on runway 15. At about 1 1/2 - 2 mi final, we were informed by tower control (which was not yet open) that the tower would not open yet for another 2 mins. This made the short hairs stand up because that is not a normal transmission from the controller. I then asked him if that precluded our landing, and was told that, yes, the airport is closed for another 2 mins. We initiated a go around and hoped that we would not trigger any sound-measuring equipment. Subsequently, we went and landed out of our next attempt after being cleared to land after tower opened. Where I believe I went astray is first, not remembering that the airport does not open until tower opens even though there is a CTAF, and we were cleared for a visual approach. Secondly, even as I read the notes on the airport plan view, as I read 'airport closed XA00 through XI00' I was thinking only about the tower closure. More attention to detail both during preflight and during approach set-up and brief would have precluded this incident from ever occurring. As it was, the second line of defense kicked in thanks to some concerned tower controllers.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH TO A CLOSED ARPT RWY MADE BY A LEAR 45 FLC WAS ABORTED BY A WARNING FROM THE STILL CLOSED TWR AT ASE, CO.

Narrative: DSNDING FOR ASPEN, CO, SHORTLY BEFORE XA00, WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC FOR A VISUAL APCH OUT OF FL180. SEVERAL MINS LATER, WE WERE GIVEN THE OPTION OF CLOSING THE FLT PLAN AIRBORNE OR A DIFFERENT FREQ TO CLOSE OUT ON THE GND. WE ACKNOWLEDGED AND WERE RELEASED TO CTAF. WHEN WE CHKED IN WITH CTAF, AT LEAST 2 OTHER ACFT WERE TAXIING FOR DEP. WE ANNOUNCED OUR POS AND INTENTIONS OF LNDG ON RWY 15. AT ABOUT 1 1/2 - 2 MI FINAL, WE WERE INFORMED BY TWR CTL (WHICH WAS NOT YET OPEN) THAT THE TWR WOULD NOT OPEN YET FOR ANOTHER 2 MINS. THIS MADE THE SHORT HAIRS STAND UP BECAUSE THAT IS NOT A NORMAL XMISSION FROM THE CTLR. I THEN ASKED HIM IF THAT PRECLUDED OUR LNDG, AND WAS TOLD THAT, YES, THE ARPT IS CLOSED FOR ANOTHER 2 MINS. WE INITIATED A GAR AND HOPED THAT WE WOULD NOT TRIGGER ANY SOUND-MEASURING EQUIP. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE WENT AND LANDED OUT OF OUR NEXT ATTEMPT AFTER BEING CLRED TO LAND AFTER TWR OPENED. WHERE I BELIEVE I WENT ASTRAY IS FIRST, NOT REMEMBERING THAT THE ARPT DOES NOT OPEN UNTIL TWR OPENS EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A CTAF, AND WE WERE CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH. SECONDLY, EVEN AS I READ THE NOTES ON THE ARPT PLAN VIEW, AS I READ 'ARPT CLOSED XA00 THROUGH XI00' I WAS THINKING ONLY ABOUT THE TWR CLOSURE. MORE ATTN TO DETAIL BOTH DURING PREFLT AND DURING APCH SET-UP AND BRIEF WOULD HAVE PRECLUDED THIS INCIDENT FROM EVER OCCURRING. AS IT WAS, THE SECOND LINE OF DEFENSE KICKED IN THANKS TO SOME CONCERNED TWR CTLRS.

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.