An IFR C172 pilot was given a visual approach to his destination airport after he reported it insigh...

Attributes
ACN	845746
Time
Date	200907
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Landing
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 109 Flight Crew Total 210
Events
Anomaly	Airspace Violation All Types Deviation - Procedural FAR Deviation - Procedural Landing Without Clearance Ground Incursion Runway

Narrative:

I departed to a distant airport on an IFR flight plan. Around 15 miles from my destination approach asked me to verify ZZZ and my destination in site. After verification; I canceled IFR and began a VFR descent into what I verified as my destination. Upon landing; I realized I was six miles short of my destination and had actually landed at an air force airbase. Having done my preflight planning and using all my available resources - it was my inexperience in the airspace that led me to land six miles short of the intended runway at my destination. I am very sorry to have caused any FAA violations and security violations within the airbase. As a corrective action; I proposed that approach should keep all aircraft clear of the airbase via radar vector due to the many airports in the surrounding area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An IFR C172 pilot was given a visual approach to his destination airport after he reported it insight. Confused with other area airports; he landed six miles short of his airport at an Air Force Base.

Narrative: I departed to a distant airport on an IFR flight plan. Around 15 miles from my destination approach asked me to verify ZZZ and my destination in site. After verification; I canceled IFR and began a VFR descent into what I verified as my destination. Upon landing; I realized I was six miles short of my destination and had actually landed at an Air Force airbase. Having done my preflight planning and using all my available resources - it was my inexperience in the airspace that led me to land six miles short of the intended runway at my destination. I am very sorry to have caused any FAA violations and security violations within the airbase. As a corrective action; I proposed that Approach should keep all aircraft clear of the airbase via Radar vector due to the many airports in the surrounding area.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

An IFR C172 pilot was given a visual approach to his destination airport after he reported it insight. Confused with other area airports; he landed six miles short of his airport at an air force base.