Narrative:

Before setting out on an instrument training flight the student and I checked with FSS several times concerning the WX, forecasts, sigmets, and NOTAMS for our proposed flight. After checking both the AOPA airport directory and the nos approach plates we filed our flight plan, and set out on the flight. After reaching our destination we were cleared and shot the ADF approach, though we were in VFR conditions, and found the airport. After sighting the airport we landed safety and taxied to the ramp. On the ramp we were approached by the local authorities who informed us that the airport closes at sunset. We promptly looked through the nos approach plates and the AOPA directory. The directory listed hours of the airport as 'unattended' but no mention of closure. The nos approach plate listed in the notes section at the bottom that the ADF 'approach procedure is not authority/authorized at night.' this brings up several questions as well as probably some needed changes. The NOTAMS which include the sunset closure at billy mitchell are listed in the local NOTAMS and we never received such a NOTAM on our preflight briefings. There must be some way of conveniently receiving all NOTAMS for a particular flight? I have learned now to use more than one or two sources of airport directory for they may not contain current and up to date information. However, the hours of the airport at billy mitchell field in the AOPA directory should be changed from 'unattended' to 'sunrise to sunset.' more of a question is, why did ATC clear us for the ADF approach at hatteras if such a procedure is unauthorized at night? If an IFR procedure such as an approach is not authority/authorized, for some reason, there should be some standardization on listing this on the plate. I have seen most of these listed in all different locations, and some are hard to find.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA ON A TRAINING FLT LANDED AT 8W5 AFTER ARPT WAS CLOSED.

Narrative: BEFORE SETTING OUT ON AN INST TRAINING FLT THE STUDENT AND I CHKED WITH FSS SEVERAL TIMES CONCERNING THE WX, FORECASTS, SIGMETS, AND NOTAMS FOR OUR PROPOSED FLT. AFTER CHKING BOTH THE AOPA ARPT DIRECTORY AND THE NOS APCH PLATES WE FILED OUR FLT PLAN, AND SET OUT ON THE FLT. AFTER REACHING OUR DEST WE WERE CLRED AND SHOT THE ADF APCH, THOUGH WE WERE IN VFR CONDITIONS, AND FOUND THE ARPT. AFTER SIGHTING THE ARPT WE LANDED SAFETY AND TAXIED TO THE RAMP. ON THE RAMP WE WERE APCHED BY THE LCL AUTHORITIES WHO INFORMED US THAT THE ARPT CLOSES AT SUNSET. WE PROMPTLY LOOKED THROUGH THE NOS APCH PLATES AND THE AOPA DIRECTORY. THE DIRECTORY LISTED HOURS OF THE ARPT AS 'UNATTENDED' BUT NO MENTION OF CLOSURE. THE NOS APCH PLATE LISTED IN THE NOTES SECTION AT THE BOTTOM THAT THE ADF 'APCH PROC IS NOT AUTH AT NIGHT.' THIS BRINGS UP SEVERAL QUESTIONS AS WELL AS PROBABLY SOME NEEDED CHANGES. THE NOTAMS WHICH INCLUDE THE SUNSET CLOSURE AT BILLY MITCHELL ARE LISTED IN THE LCL NOTAMS AND WE NEVER RECEIVED SUCH A NOTAM ON OUR PREFLT BRIEFINGS. THERE MUST BE SOME WAY OF CONVENIENTLY RECEIVING ALL NOTAMS FOR A PARTICULAR FLT? I HAVE LEARNED NOW TO USE MORE THAN ONE OR TWO SOURCES OF ARPT DIRECTORY FOR THEY MAY NOT CONTAIN CURRENT AND UP TO DATE INFO. HOWEVER, THE HOURS OF THE ARPT AT BILLY MITCHELL FIELD IN THE AOPA DIRECTORY SHOULD BE CHANGED FROM 'UNATTENDED' TO 'SUNRISE TO SUNSET.' MORE OF A QUESTION IS, WHY DID ATC CLR US FOR THE ADF APCH AT HATTERAS IF SUCH A PROC IS UNAUTH AT NIGHT? IF AN IFR PROC SUCH AS AN APCH IS NOT AUTH, FOR SOME REASON, THERE SHOULD BE SOME STANDARDIZATION ON LISTING THIS ON THE PLATE. I HAVE SEEN MOST OF THESE LISTED IN ALL DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, AND SOME ARE HARD TO FIND.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.