A GPS entry error is a factor in an approach to the wrong airport.

Attributes
ACN	590829
Time
Date	200308
Day	Mon
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sbp.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 E Super 21
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	landing : roll
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 420 flight time type : 15
ASRS Report	590829
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : published procedure other spatial deviation aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : executed go around
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on a long cross country practice flight from L35 to sbp. I was using vors and a GPS as a back-up for navigation. My GPS was set in error to smx instead of sbp. I contacted sbp tower to advise that I was 10 mi out for landing. I followed instructions for a straight in for runway 29 (sbp). I was on short final when I realized that I was heading for runway 30 (smx). I aborted the final approach, climbed to 2500 ft MSL as I advised sbp tower that I was at the wrong airport. I landed at sbp without incident. This situation could have been prevented, if I would have crosschecked the GPS with my flight plan and chart. I disabled my GPS for the return flight and practiced VOR flight with vors and chart only. It works.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A GPS ENTRY ERROR IS A FACTOR IN AN APCH TO THE WRONG ARPT.

Narrative: I WAS ON A LONG XCOUNTRY PRACTICE FLT FROM L35 TO SBP. I WAS USING VORS AND A GPS AS A BACK-UP FOR NAV. MY GPS WAS SET IN ERROR TO SMX INSTEAD OF SBP. I CONTACTED SBP TWR TO ADVISE THAT I WAS 10 MI OUT FOR LNDG. I FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS FOR A STRAIGHT IN FOR RWY 29 (SBP). I WAS ON SHORT FINAL WHEN I REALIZED THAT I WAS HDG FOR RWY 30 (SMX). I ABORTED THE FINAL APCH, CLBED TO 2500 FT MSL AS I ADVISED SBP TWR THAT I WAS AT THE WRONG ARPT. I LANDED AT SBP WITHOUT INCIDENT. THIS SIT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED, IF I WOULD HAVE XCHKED THE GPS WITH MY FLT PLAN AND CHART. I DISABLED MY GPS FOR THE RETURN FLT AND PRACTICED VOR FLT WITH VORS AND CHART ONLY. IT WORKS.

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.