An air carrier captain reported lining up with the wrong airport on approach to okc; even though he ...

Narrative:

After being cleared for the visual approach into okc; we started a descent only to realize that it was not to the correct airport. As we realized our error; the approach controller advised us to climb and proceed on a different heading. We complied; and inquired if we had caused any problems. Controller replied; 'no worries.' after landing I phoned okc approach to make sure that all was well. I was told that there was no problem; it is a common mistake. We were running the localizer for 17L; which helped to alert us to the problem. The runways are aligned in a similar fashion at both airports. I had only been to okc once before; in the dark; so was unfamiliar with the surroundings; although I did notice a lake that I hadn't before. My first officer had been to okc a few times; but was flying in the right seat of a new airplane; and was initially concerned with flying the airplane. He had his doubts about the same time I did. So; what did we learn? Even with back up (the localizer); it is important to keep your head up and pay attention to all visual cues; and to remain vigilant at all times.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An air carrier Captain reported lining up with the wrong airport on approach to OKC; even though he had the localizer tuned properly. Neither pilot was very familiar with OKC area.

Narrative: After being cleared for the visual approach into OKC; we started a descent only to realize that it was not to the correct airport. As we realized our error; the Approach Controller advised us to climb and proceed on a different heading. We complied; and inquired if we had caused any problems. Controller replied; 'No worries.' After landing I phoned OKC Approach to make sure that all was well. I was told that there was no problem; it is a common mistake. We were running the localizer for 17L; which helped to alert us to the problem. The runways are aligned in a similar fashion at both airports. I had only been to OKC once before; in the dark; so was unfamiliar with the surroundings; although I did notice a lake that I hadn't before. My First Officer had been to OKC a few times; but was flying in the right seat of a new airplane; and was initially concerned with flying the airplane. He had his doubts about the same time I did. So; what did we learn? Even with back up (the localizer); it is important to keep your head up and pay attention to all visual cues; and to remain vigilant at all times.

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.

Attributes
ACN	889162
Time
Date	201005
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	OKC.Airport
State Reference	OK
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100 Flight Crew Total 5000 Flight Crew Type 2500
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

An air carrier captain reported lining up with the wrong airport on approach to okc; even though he had the localizer tuned properly. Neither pilot was very familiar with okc area.