Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Retractable Gear
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15; Flight Crew Total 123; Flight Crew Type 14.5
Training / Qualification; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
I was inbound for landing and entered left downwind for Runway 35. There was another airplane on short final for 35. The other airplane landed and called clear of 35 on the CTAF as I was turning base. I turned final and lined up with what I thought was the runway. The approach was looking really good. Then I noticed that the other airplane was directly in front of me. That's when I realized that I was not aligned with Runway 35 -- instead; I was aligned with the taxiway adjacent to the runway. As I initiated a go-around; the other pilot came on frequency and confirmed my mistake. There were two major factors that caused me to line up with the taxiway instead of the runway. First; the taxiway was used a drag strip for race cars in the past. As a result of the drag races; it has very dark parallel markings that resemble the touchdown zone of a large commercial airport. Second; it was dusk. In the low light; the dark skid marks stood out as the most prominent visual cue; a visual cue that I am used to seeing on runways at larger airports. After the go-around I made a full trip around the traffic pattern and landed uneventfully on Runway 35. Improved runway markings and/or lighting might make the runway stand out more prominently than the dark skid marks on the taxiway during low light conditions.
A pilot executed a go around at 300 FT when he realized he was lined up to land on the F82 taxiway adjacent to Runway 35 because during his dusk approach he did not distinguish the difference until he saw a taxiing aircraft.