Narrative:

I flew from mso (missoula, mt) to 851 (polsun, mt), a distance of 55 NM, on oct/mon/03. WX was: visibility and ceiling unrestr, so I didn't check WX (or NOTAMS) with flight service. If I had, I would have found that 851 was closed for 3 days for maintenance. Arriving at 851, I saw a yellow 'X' off the approach end of runway 36. Seeing no problems with the runway, and not seeing an 'X' on the approach end of runway 18, where I was planning to land, I thought that there might have been some temporary restr to landing on runway 36. I had called several times on 122.8, the CTAF, but received no xmissions about the airfield. A cessna 206 was taxiing. Seeing what appeared to be normal activity and a clear runway, I landed on runway 18. After landing, I saw equipment off the side of the runway and learned from a worker that the runway was to be closed for 3 days for repair. The cessna 206 which was taxiing was being allowed to depart while the runway was still usable. I asked the worker if it would be ok if I departed, too, and I landed at nearby ronan, mt. Later in the day, I flew back over 851 to see why I did not see an 'X' on the approach end of runway 18 and found it to be there, but difficult to see, as it was yellow laying on yellow mowed grass. There were no human factors -- I was well rested and fit. I certainly learned a lesson about making sure I check NOTAMS and other pertinent preflight information before flying anywhere, and the importance of ascertaining the actual condition of the airfield.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CIRRUS SR22 PLT FAILS TO GET A WX BRIEF AND NOTAMS FOR A FLT TO 851 WHICH RESULTS IN A LNDG ON A CLOSED RWY. THE PLT NOTICED AN 'X' ON THE OPPOSITE END OF THE RWY.

Narrative: I FLEW FROM MSO (MISSOULA, MT) TO 851 (POLSUN, MT), A DISTANCE OF 55 NM, ON OCT/MON/03. WX WAS: VISIBILITY AND CEILING UNRESTR, SO I DIDN'T CHK WX (OR NOTAMS) WITH FLT SVC. IF I HAD, I WOULD HAVE FOUND THAT 851 WAS CLOSED FOR 3 DAYS FOR MAINT. ARRIVING AT 851, I SAW A YELLOW 'X' OFF THE APCH END OF RWY 36. SEEING NO PROBS WITH THE RWY, AND NOT SEEING AN 'X' ON THE APCH END OF RWY 18, WHERE I WAS PLANNING TO LAND, I THOUGHT THAT THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME TEMPORARY RESTR TO LNDG ON RWY 36. I HAD CALLED SEVERAL TIMES ON 122.8, THE CTAF, BUT RECEIVED NO XMISSIONS ABOUT THE AIRFIELD. A CESSNA 206 WAS TAXIING. SEEING WHAT APPEARED TO BE NORMAL ACTIVITY AND A CLR RWY, I LANDED ON RWY 18. AFTER LNDG, I SAW EQUIP OFF THE SIDE OF THE RWY AND LEARNED FROM A WORKER THAT THE RWY WAS TO BE CLOSED FOR 3 DAYS FOR REPAIR. THE CESSNA 206 WHICH WAS TAXIING WAS BEING ALLOWED TO DEPART WHILE THE RWY WAS STILL USABLE. I ASKED THE WORKER IF IT WOULD BE OK IF I DEPARTED, TOO, AND I LANDED AT NEARBY RONAN, MT. LATER IN THE DAY, I FLEW BACK OVER 851 TO SEE WHY I DID NOT SEE AN 'X' ON THE APCH END OF RWY 18 AND FOUND IT TO BE THERE, BUT DIFFICULT TO SEE, AS IT WAS YELLOW LAYING ON YELLOW MOWED GRASS. THERE WERE NO HUMAN FACTORS -- I WAS WELL RESTED AND FIT. I CERTAINLY LEARNED A LESSON ABOUT MAKING SURE I CHK NOTAMS AND OTHER PERTINENT PREFLT INFO BEFORE FLYING ANYWHERE, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ASCERTAINING THE ACTUAL CONDITION OF THE AIRFIELD.

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.