Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Distraction; Workload; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Ground Event / Encounter Ground Equipment Issue; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown; No Specific Anomaly Occurred Unwanted Situation
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Airport; Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related
During approach to Runway 2 into BMI; there are four bright lights approximately 0.5 miles from the approach end. They appear to be part of a sports complex. The lights appear to be PAPI lighting and in IMC conditions; such as low ceiling and/or visibility; and may cause spatial disorientation. Due to the proximity to the airport; we momentarily thought the runway environment was in sight. After cross checking flight instruments; we continued down another approximately 200 feet to where we saw the actual PAPI lights and runway environment; at approximately 800 feet. We landed following a stabilized approach and without further incident.There are four bright white lights approximately 0.5 from the approach end of runway 2 that appear to be PAPI lights on the same side as the real PAPIs. Suggest a NOTAM; remark; comment; or other publication should be made available to all airmen wishing to use the ILS; LOC; or RNAV (GPS) to Runway 2 at BMI.
Air Carrier pilot reported bright lights from a sports field complex near the approach end of the runway were mistaken for the PAPIs.