Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Flight Engineer; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10; Flight Crew Total 29000; Flight Crew Type 200
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Landing Without Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Procedure
While on a direct flight; I became uncomfortable with the amount of fuel showing in my two fuel tanks. My flight planning had taken into consideration my fuel on board prior to departure so as to allow for a 45 minutes reserve at my planned destination. Once in the air at the halfway point; I decided that flight planning notwithstanding; I would be more comfortable and possibly erring on the side of a more safe operation to just make a fuel stop at RCZ (Richmond; NC) which was in sight and readily available. I consulted the sectional map and the FAA Chart Supplement; listened to the AWOS; and proceeded to make a VFR approach to Richmond. The published [CTAF] frequency was the old common 122.8. There was the usual chatter of different aircraft on the frequency at other airports. I did hear some talk on the radio that was very faint and scratchy that sounded like a control tower directing air traffic. I could see another airplane in the pattern at Richmond so I advised on 122.8 that I was going to follow the airplane about to turn a right base to the active runway. As I got closer to final I could still hear faintly a controller like talk on the radio and was confused at why a control tower at a probably distant airport somewhere was broadcasting on 122.8. Upon landing as I was then very close to the temporary mobile tower and I heard the tower use my aircraft N number to ask what my intentions were. Realizing that the faint controller I had been hearing occasionally was an actual control tower at Richmond; I responded that I wanted to taxi to a refuel station. I was cleared to the FBO. Still confused as to why there was a control tower at what I thought was an uncontrolled field; I went to the FBO; found out about the NOTAM designating Richmond with a temporary control tower. After refueling; I called the temporary Richmond Control Tower on 122.8 to taxi and takeoff. Even on taxi out the tower radio was faint and scratchy and barely understandable; to which I reported to the tower.
GA pilot reported landing without a clearance at a non-towered airport while a temporary military Tower was in use.