Narrative:

I use a garmin 195 (relatively old) handheld GPS as a back-up to my 2 VOR units. On a recent IFR flight from ZZZ1 to ZZZ2; I decided to make an unscheduled pit stop at ZZZ3. A stiff headwind; mild turbulence; and need for a rest called for this decision. I was on an IFR flight plan talking with approach control. I started to ask for an ILS approach; but when I saw how far south the IAF was; and the fact I could see the ground; I cancelled the IFR and proceeded visually. It was VFR but not by a large margin. Since I was VFR; I used my GPS to navigate to ZZZ3. The first and most obvious problem I ran into was that the identifier on my chart did not 'pop-up' when I put it into my GPS. I should have immediately questioned it; but I hit the nearest button and picked up the airport that way. Using my GPS; I navigated to what I thought was ZZZ3; only to arrival in marginal VFR conditions and descending to 300 to 500 ft. I quickly noticed orange traffic cones all over the runway. It didn't take a rocket scientist to quickly put together the problem with the identifier and the closed airport. I got on the radio with approach and they quickly got me into the new ZZZ3 via a non-eventful ILS. I called approach on the phone when I got home that afternoon to make sure all was ok; and they assured me it was; but I want to report this so pilots will understand the importance of periodic updates of the GPS. For my hand-held; it only cost $35 for the update; but by not spending this $35; I could have gotten myself into a jam had I really needed to land at ZZZ3 due to an emergency rather than a normal pit stop. My old logic of why go through the hassle of updating a GPS because they don't move airports has just been proven wrong. Bottom line: even though you use a hand-held GPS as a back-up; don't be a cheapskate; update it frequently!!!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA28 PLT USING A GARMIN 195 GPS NEARLY LANDED AT A CLOSED ARPT BECAUSE HIS GPS DATABASE WAS OUT OF DATE.

Narrative: I USE A GARMIN 195 (RELATIVELY OLD) HANDHELD GPS AS A BACK-UP TO MY 2 VOR UNITS. ON A RECENT IFR FLT FROM ZZZ1 TO ZZZ2; I DECIDED TO MAKE AN UNSCHEDULED PIT STOP AT ZZZ3. A STIFF HEADWIND; MILD TURB; AND NEED FOR A REST CALLED FOR THIS DECISION. I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN TALKING WITH APCH CTL. I STARTED TO ASK FOR AN ILS APCH; BUT WHEN I SAW HOW FAR S THE IAF WAS; AND THE FACT I COULD SEE THE GND; I CANCELLED THE IFR AND PROCEEDED VISUALLY. IT WAS VFR BUT NOT BY A LARGE MARGIN. SINCE I WAS VFR; I USED MY GPS TO NAVIGATE TO ZZZ3. THE FIRST AND MOST OBVIOUS PROB I RAN INTO WAS THAT THE IDENTIFIER ON MY CHART DID NOT 'POP-UP' WHEN I PUT IT INTO MY GPS. I SHOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY QUESTIONED IT; BUT I HIT THE NEAREST BUTTON AND PICKED UP THE ARPT THAT WAY. USING MY GPS; I NAVIGATED TO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS ZZZ3; ONLY TO ARR IN MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS AND DSNDING TO 300 TO 500 FT. I QUICKLY NOTICED ORANGE TFC CONES ALL OVER THE RWY. IT DIDN'T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO QUICKLY PUT TOGETHER THE PROB WITH THE IDENTIFIER AND THE CLOSED ARPT. I GOT ON THE RADIO WITH APCH AND THEY QUICKLY GOT ME INTO THE NEW ZZZ3 VIA A NON-EVENTFUL ILS. I CALLED APCH ON THE PHONE WHEN I GOT HOME THAT AFTERNOON TO MAKE SURE ALL WAS OK; AND THEY ASSURED ME IT WAS; BUT I WANT TO RPT THIS SO PLTS WILL UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PERIODIC UPDATES OF THE GPS. FOR MY HAND-HELD; IT ONLY COST $35 FOR THE UPDATE; BUT BY NOT SPENDING THIS $35; I COULD HAVE GOTTEN MYSELF INTO A JAM HAD I REALLY NEEDED TO LAND AT ZZZ3 DUE TO AN EMER RATHER THAN A NORMAL PIT STOP. MY OLD LOGIC OF WHY GO THROUGH THE HASSLE OF UPDATING A GPS BECAUSE THEY DON'T MOVE ARPTS HAS JUST BEEN PROVEN WRONG. BOTTOM LINE: EVEN THOUGH YOU USE A HAND-HELD GPS AS A BACK-UP; DON'T BE A CHEAPSKATE; UPDATE IT FREQUENTLY!!!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.