Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 130; Flight Crew Total 1350; Flight Crew Type 125
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Distraction
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
I was dodging thunderstorms enroute to BHM and approaching from an abnormal direction; I was planning on the localizer 24 approach; and had that briefed; tuned; and set on two different navs. I picked up the airport around 18 NM out; and was cleared for the visual approach; at that time went visual; mistook Runway 6 for 24 and no longer used my navs for course guidance. After being cleared for the approach I was switched to Tower; after checking in with Tower I was cleared to land 24; not seconds after getting cleared to land 24 there was a high frequency tone that I originally thought was being transmitted by an aircraft (I was later informed that this is a known issue from the TV towers on the hill southwest of the field) and at this stage of the flight needing to focus; there were storms just east of the field; I turned my radio down which unintentionally was all the way down. I immediately turned in to land on what I mistook for Runway 24. From what I understand Tower did try and call me to advise me of my lining up to the wrong runway but due to the interference from the antennas I had my radios all the way down.  It wasn't until I was well off the runway after calling for taxi that I realized my radios were all the way down.
The reporter clarified the location of the antennas on a ridge line about 7 NM southwest of the field.
A General Aviation pilot reports being cleared for the visual approach to Runway 24 at BHM but becomes confused and lines up for  Runway 6. A loud squeal from the radio caused by TV antennas 7 NM southwest of the field causes the radio volume to be turned way down and calls from the Tower go unheard.