Narrative:

My brother-in-law, a 1000 hour private pilot, obtained a briefing. It was a beautiful summer afternoon so we went VFR in my BE55, since he just obtained his multi rating. I told flint departure we were going to traverse city (VFR at 4500 ft, that we were remaining clear of the restr areas, etc. I thought all was well. On the flight my brother-in-law said 'let's land at Y04 -- it's closer to my brother.' he said 'the resort is closed but the airport is open.' I checked my 2002 michigan airport directory for the airport information. I felt it was long enough and said 'let's go look, VFR.' we arrived, 2 planes were on the ramp. The runway did not have any X's -- 'closed.' we did a fly-over and landed. All was well. I called FSS to brief for the trip home and they advised that the airport was notamed closed. I filed IFR out of traverse city, departed VFR and picked up my flight plan/clearance from center. I should have obtained my own briefing and checked prior to landing at a different airport. I will fly IFR from now on even if I am familiar with the area and airport as things change constantly. I believe IFR provides additional protection! Further, if this airport is 'closed' it needs to have X's on the runway and be removed from the current 2002 directory! Copy attached! Anyone flying over would not be able to tell it is 'closed.' this could be unsafe.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BEECH BE55 PLT INADVERTENTLY LANDS ON CLOSED ARPT DUE TO NOT KNOWING THAT THE ARPT WAS NOTAMED CLOSED.

Narrative: MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, A 1000 HR PVT PLT, OBTAINED A BRIEFING. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SUMMER AFTERNOON SO WE WENT VFR IN MY BE55, SINCE HE JUST OBTAINED HIS MULTI RATING. I TOLD FLINT DEP WE WERE GOING TO TRAVERSE CITY (VFR AT 4500 FT, THAT WE WERE REMAINING CLR OF THE RESTR AREAS, ETC. I THOUGHT ALL WAS WELL. ON THE FLT MY BROTHER-IN-LAW SAID 'LET'S LAND AT Y04 -- IT'S CLOSER TO MY BROTHER.' HE SAID 'THE RESORT IS CLOSED BUT THE ARPT IS OPEN.' I CHKED MY 2002 MICHIGAN ARPT DIRECTORY FOR THE ARPT INFO. I FELT IT WAS LONG ENOUGH AND SAID 'LET'S GO LOOK, VFR.' WE ARRIVED, 2 PLANES WERE ON THE RAMP. THE RWY DID NOT HAVE ANY X'S -- 'CLOSED.' WE DID A FLY-OVER AND LANDED. ALL WAS WELL. I CALLED FSS TO BRIEF FOR THE TRIP HOME AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE ARPT WAS NOTAMED CLOSED. I FILED IFR OUT OF TRAVERSE CITY, DEPARTED VFR AND PICKED UP MY FLT PLAN/CLRNC FROM CTR. I SHOULD HAVE OBTAINED MY OWN BRIEFING AND CHKED PRIOR TO LNDG AT A DIFFERENT ARPT. I WILL FLY IFR FROM NOW ON EVEN IF I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA AND ARPT AS THINGS CHANGE CONSTANTLY. I BELIEVE IFR PROVIDES ADDITIONAL PROTECTION! FURTHER, IF THIS ARPT IS 'CLOSED' IT NEEDS TO HAVE X'S ON THE RWY AND BE REMOVED FROM THE CURRENT 2002 DIRECTORY! COPY ATTACHED! ANYONE FLYING OVER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TELL IT IS 'CLOSED.' THIS COULD BE UNSAFE.

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.