A small aircraft on a VOR a/GPS-a approach to auw runway 30 made a low approach to cwa runway 26. A ...

Attributes
ACN	806215
Time
Date	200810
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cwa.airport
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl single value : 39000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft Low Wing 2 Eng Retractable Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 2125 flight time type : 1800
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : executed go around flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Approaching auw I was cleared for a visual approach. Went into IMC and abandoned approach and climbed to safe altitude and requested VOR a/GPS-a approach. Was cleared for the approach from the north side of the airport via IAF of pafde 7 mi DME arc off of auw. While on the arc I was in IMC. I started the turn onto the inbound approach course. After I was in the turn I went into VMC conditions and the airport appeared. I had a clear shot to the airport and was cleared for the visual and I canceled my IFR. I continued to the runway and noted that the runway number was not the one of my intended landing. Actually; auw has runway 30 and the runway in front of me was runway 26. I realized that I was at cwa and not a auw. I had busted the class D airspace. I immediately did a go around and called center to inform them of my error. I was then cleared for the VOR a/GPS-a approach at auw and made a successful approach and landing. I called tower at cwa and explained the event. Later in the day I was asked to call msp center where I was asked about what caused the event because I was not the first to do this. This was a very good discussion about the circumstances and events that led to this with some good discussion about the design of the approach. My recommendation is that the DME arc segment of the approach that points you toward cwa (northeastern arc) as you are making your turn onto the final approach should be eliminated from the approach. Also; there are no radar services below 3500 ft in the area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A SMA ON A VOR A/GPS-A APCH TO AUW RWY 30 MADE A LOW APCH TO CWA RWY 26. A TRANSITION FROM IMC TO VMC CAUSED A QUICK INCORRECT DECISION.

Narrative: APCHING AUW I WAS CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH. WENT INTO IMC AND ABANDONED APCH AND CLBED TO SAFE ALT AND REQUESTED VOR A/GPS-A APCH. WAS CLRED FOR THE APCH FROM THE N SIDE OF THE ARPT VIA IAF OF PAFDE 7 MI DME ARC OFF OF AUW. WHILE ON THE ARC I WAS IN IMC. I STARTED THE TURN ONTO THE INBOUND APCH COURSE. AFTER I WAS IN THE TURN I WENT INTO VMC CONDITIONS AND THE ARPT APPEARED. I HAD A CLR SHOT TO THE ARPT AND WAS CLRED FOR THE VISUAL AND I CANCELED MY IFR. I CONTINUED TO THE RWY AND NOTED THAT THE RWY NUMBER WAS NOT THE ONE OF MY INTENDED LNDG. ACTUALLY; AUW HAS RWY 30 AND THE RWY IN FRONT OF ME WAS RWY 26. I REALIZED THAT I WAS AT CWA AND NOT A AUW. I HAD BUSTED THE CLASS D AIRSPACE. I IMMEDIATELY DID A GAR AND CALLED CTR TO INFORM THEM OF MY ERROR. I WAS THEN CLRED FOR THE VOR A/GPS-A APCH AT AUW AND MADE A SUCCESSFUL APCH AND LNDG. I CALLED TWR AT CWA AND EXPLAINED THE EVENT. LATER IN THE DAY I WAS ASKED TO CALL MSP CTR WHERE I WAS ASKED ABOUT WHAT CAUSED THE EVENT BECAUSE I WAS NOT THE FIRST TO DO THIS. THIS WAS A VERY GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND EVENTS THAT LED TO THIS WITH SOME GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE APCH. MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE DME ARC SEGMENT OF THE APCH THAT POINTS YOU TOWARD CWA (NORTHEASTERN ARC) AS YOU ARE MAKING YOUR TURN ONTO THE FINAL APCH SHOULD BE ELIMINATED FROM THE APCH. ALSO; THERE ARE NO RADAR SVCS BELOW 3500 FT IN THE AREA.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.

A small aircraft on a VOR a/GPS-a approach to auw runway 30 made a low approach to cwa runway 26. A transition from IMC to VMC caused a quick incorrect decision.