King Air C90 E90
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Engineer; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Situational Awareness; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
I departed and subsequently picked up my IFR clearance to RNT from Seattle Center. The clearance was OLM RNT at 16;000 feet. On descent to OLM; I was again cleared direct to OLM direct RNT and given a crossing restriction 10 south of OLM at 10;000 feet.After passing OLM and going direct RNT; I was given vectors and descents to coordinate with traffic. I was eventually given a heading and descent to 2;000 feet. The heading appeared to be a good intercept angle for Runway 34 at RNT. I began to slow from 200 KTS to 120 KTS. At this time the heading I had been given had taken me to the east of centerline to Runway 34 and I was expecting approach to give me a new heading to correct back; as I could see Runway 34. Instead I was given 'cleared for the approach to Runway 31 do no descend below; 1;600 feet until on the localizer.' I was then given a frequency change to contact the tower; it was not the correct frequency for RNT. At this point it began to be very clear to me that approach control thought my landing airport was BFI; not RNT. How or why; I didn't know. Approach control then gave me a heading north and a frequency for RNT; I entered a right downwind for Runway 34 at RNT and landed. On taxi in a RNT ground control gave me a request to call the watch supervisor for approach control and said 'don't let them blame this on you; they keyed in the wrong airport in the computer.' I thanked her and called the supervisor. She explained what happened; took my name and phone number in case there were further questions.In my years of flying I've heard many times about pilots landing at the wrong airport; but never ATC sending you to the wrong airport; especially on an IFR flight plan. As a result I didn't question the clearance I was given; I should have; as this whole exercise could have been avoided. Simply; if you don't understand the clearance; or it doesn't make sense; question it and get a clarification from Center; Approach Control; or Tower.
BE90 pilot reports filing an IFR flight plan to RNT but during descent; Approach assigns a heading and clears him for the approach to Runway 31 at BFI. Approach Control is advised and vectors are received for a right downwind at RNT.