Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 7; Flight Crew Total 7300; Flight Crew Type 4000
Confusion; Situational Awareness
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure; Airspace Structure
The event was an improper traffic pattern into ZZZ which was uncontrolled Class G airspace at the time.We were on an IFR re-positioning flight from ZZZ1 to ZZZ and I was the non-flying pilot. The weather conditions were VFR with clear clouds and unrestricted visibility. The winds were approximately 300 degrees at 10 kts. The flight from ZZZ1 to ZZZ would be quick; approximately 15 minutes flying time; so prior to takeoff from ZZZ1 the flying pilot and I briefed the flight as much as we could. We reviewed the weather; NOTAMs; and airport procedures at ZZZ knowing the Tower would be closed at the time of our arrival. Given the forecast weather at ZZZ we initially planned to land on Runway XX. While enroute and approximately 10 miles from the airport we heard other traffic operating at ZZZ and they were using Runway YYL. We decided to change runways and land on Runway YYL as well so as to not conflict with the other traffic. We reported the airport in sight and Approach cleared us for the visual approach and we entered the pattern from the North. At that point we changed to the advisory frequency and prepared for a right downwind entry for Runway YYL. We heard one other aircraft in the traffic pattern who just departed YYL and reported entering the left crosswind. After hearing that; I asked the flying pilot if he was sure that the traffic pattern for YYL was right traffic and we both felt that it was. I remembered during our pre-departure brief seeing on the airport diagram Runway XX right traffic pattern; as well as right pattern for Runway YY; but I later found out that it is right pattern for the parallel Runway YYR only. At this point we were entering the right downwind at 1;600 feet and we had the other traffic in sight which was entering the left downwind for YYL. We continued our approach and landing using a right traffic pattern and maintained communication and a constant visual with the other aircraft in the pattern and landed uneventfully. After landing we reviewed the airport information again and realized that it should have been standard pattern for Runway YYL and we mistakenly thought the right traffic pattern for YYR to be for both.Even though we reviewed the traffic pattern direction prior to departure from ZZZ1 we should have reviewed it again and verified it once the decision was made to change from Runway XX to YYL. We thought we were on the correct entry; but we questioned it after hearing the departing traffic was entering a left crosswind for YYL. We were established in the traffic pattern already and working on configuring the airplane for landing. Since we had a constant visual of the other aircraft and was announcing our position and intentions to the other traffic; we decided to continue with the approach and land. They had us in sight as well and announced they would be extending their downwind and would be following behind us.To prevent a recurrence of this I will be sure to be more vigilant of traffic pattern direction while approaching an airport especially an uncontrolled airport and as well; I will not be so focused on landing on one runway that I miss important information about other runways. Also; anytime there is a change of the runway in use we should review the airport information again. I should have spoken up once I had doubt about the traffic pattern and we should not of continued our approach until the correct pattern could be confirmed. We preferred to land runway XX since it was the longer runway; but we should have better anticipated that other traffic would be using YYL since it was preferential with the direction of the wind. This is not an excuse; but this was our first trip in several months due to the pandemic that is affecting our country. I believe a factor affecting the quality of my performance in this event was the lack of sharpness due to the slowdown in flying. This was also the last leg to a relatively long duty day; 11 hours. I believe a contributing operating factor was that we are used to arriving straight-in at this airport because it is normally a controlled Class C airport.
[Narrative contained no additional information.]
Corporate flight crew reported flying the incorrect pattern to a landing.