A small aircraft pilot landed on a closed runway when he failed to notice the X placed not on but in...

Attributes
ACN	810324
Time
Date	200810
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : k62.airport
State Reference	KY
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft Low Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	landing : roll
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	810324
Events
Anomaly	incursion : runway non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I inadvertently landed on a closed runway. It was a beautiful VFR day; and I was on a local pleasure flight; when I decided to stop for fuel. I had flown the day before and noted on a NOTAM check that my usual fuel stop was closed for paving. I therefore went to another field (kgz). On approach; I saw no indication of a closed runway. Upon taxiing to the pumps; I saw a notice that the runway was closed. No one was on the runway or ramp; but I found a crew in the terminal eating lunch. A workman informed me there was NOTAM a filed and the runway was 'X'd.' I thought X's were to be placed on the runway and were to be white. These X's were orange and off the end of the runway. These X's were not very visible and were hard to spot even when I knew they were there. I now know the X's are only required to be in proximity of runway ends; and can be white; yellow or orange. I'm not sure how I missed the NOTAM; but will be more careful when checking; and certainly more observant when landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A SMALL AIRCRAFT PILOT LANDED ON A CLOSED RUNWAY WHEN HE FAILED TO NOTICE THE X PLACED NOT ON BUT IN PROXIMITY TO THE RUNWAY.

Narrative: I INADVERTENTLY LANDED ON A CLOSED RWY. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL VFR DAY; AND I WAS ON A LCL PLEASURE FLT; WHEN I DECIDED TO STOP FOR FUEL. I HAD FLOWN THE DAY BEFORE AND NOTED ON A NOTAM CHK THAT MY USUAL FUEL STOP WAS CLOSED FOR PAVING. I THEREFORE WENT TO ANOTHER FIELD (KGZ). ON APCH; I SAW NO INDICATION OF A CLOSED RWY. UPON TAXIING TO THE PUMPS; I SAW A NOTICE THAT THE RWY WAS CLOSED. NO ONE WAS ON THE RWY OR RAMP; BUT I FOUND A CREW IN THE TERMINAL EATING LUNCH. A WORKMAN INFORMED ME THERE WAS NOTAM A FILED AND THE RWY WAS 'X'D.' I THOUGHT X'S WERE TO BE PLACED ON THE RWY AND WERE TO BE WHITE. THESE X'S WERE ORANGE AND OFF THE END OF THE RWY. THESE X'S WERE NOT VERY VISIBLE AND WERE HARD TO SPOT EVEN WHEN I KNEW THEY WERE THERE. I NOW KNOW THE X'S ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO BE IN PROX OF RWY ENDS; AND CAN BE WHITE; YELLOW OR ORANGE. I'M NOT SURE HOW I MISSED THE NOTAM; BUT WILL BE MORE CAREFUL WHEN CHKING; AND CERTAINLY MORE OBSERVANT WHEN LNDG.

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 pilot landed on a closed runway when he failed to notice the X placed not on but in proximity to the runway.