Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 3; Flight Crew Total 1449; Flight Crew Type 646
Distraction; Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness
Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Ground Incursion Runway
General None Reported / Taken
Airport; Human Factors; Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related
This incident occurred while taxiing clear of the runway after landing at ZZZ. I was returning direct from ZZZ1 - a short flight - where I had briefly stopped while returning from a flight earlier in the day to ZZZ2 my first flying destination since the start of the COVID-19 related remaining-at-home.As I approached ZZZ; I was speaking with Approach. The Tower at ZZZ was closed; due to shortened hours instituted during the pandemic; so that the airspace was Class E instead of the usual (towered) Class C; the Tower had closed for the day at XX00 local. (I landed just before XA00 local.) After receiving the automated weather at ZZZ; I informed ATC that I was proceeding on an extended right base to and landing on Runway XX; which based on the automated weather was appropriate. I then switched to the CTAF - the usual Tower frequency and now the CTAF - and self-announced my intentions.I landed uneventfully on Runway XX; and as the aircraft slowed I reported on the CTAF that I would be leaving runway XX at Bravo Taxiway. I made the left turn onto Bravo and; after reporting on the CTAF that I was clear of Runway XX at Bravo and proceeding down Bravo taxiway; I continued ahead. Due to the pandemic and greatly reduced flying by GA pilots; there seemed to be very few aircraft moving on the ground or inbound to the ZZZ airport.However; without realizing it; I had inadvertently turned off Runway XX not onto Bravo Taxiway; but onto Runway XYR; on which there were no other airplanes. Then; as I proceeded down what I thought to be Bravo Taxiway (but was actually Runway XYR); I observed a high-wing single-engine aircraft slowly enter the far end of the asphalt - i.e. the approach end of Runway YXL. I assumed that this aircraft was going to taxi along Bravo Taxiway (the pavement that I was on) in the opposite direction; and I moved over to the left side of the pavement to allow that aircraft plenty of room to pass by my moving aircraft on the right. I then observed that high-wing aircraft execute a slow 180 degree turn and taxi back off of the 'taxiway' along which I was moving. It was not until I reached very close to that far end of the pavement - where I had expected to join Taxiway Sierra - that I realized that I was on Runway XYR and NOT on Taxiway Bravo. At the same time; the high-wing aircraft contacted me on the CTAF to inquire my intentions; and I explained that I thought I had turned onto Bravo Taxiway from Runway XX; apologized for my error and departed the runway via a right turn onto Bravo (at Bravo-4) and then a left turn onto Taxiway Sierra.I believe that my error can be attributed to a combination of several factors.First; although XXX is my 'home' airport; my lack of flight time during the previous 3 months had a greater than expected impact on my flying readiness; a 'dulling' effect on my aviation abilities; I was clearly not as 'sharp' as I generally expect and require of myself. To make such a 'rookie' error of landing and then turning off the runway at the wrong intersection is inexcusable and unbelievably dangerous; and is something as to which I normally play *extremely* close attention; I know that runway incursions of any sort are dangerous; unacceptable and to be constantly guarded against.Second; this is the first time; in the X years that I have been based at ZZZ; that the Tower has been closed when I was flying there. When I fly into (or out of) untowered fields; I make it my business to exhibit a focused; intentional effort to be on greatly heightened alert; both in the air and; apropos here; particularly on the ground; to correctly identify all taxiways; runways; and movement and non-movement areas; as well as all other aircraft in motion on the field. I believe that complacency arising from my close familiarity with ZZZ caused me to 'relax' the degree of heightened attention that this situation - the lack of an operating Tower and Ground Control - demanded.Third; in going over and over in my mind how I could possibly have turned onto Runway XYR instead of onto Bravo Taxiway in leaving Runway XX; I realize that an important causative factor resulted from a violation of one of my cardinal 'rules' during the landing rollout; when I had a brief verbal exchange with my wife; who was riding in the right seat; just after we landed. I recognize a sterile cockpit during and after landing to be an essential safety measure; of which my wife (as my frequent flying companion) is quite aware. At ZZZ; the turnoffs after landing on Runway XX are; first; Runway XYL; then Runway XYR; then Taxiway Bravo; all in relatively quick succession. The Taxiway Bravo turnoff is perhaps only about 15 feet or so beyond Runway XYR. In retrospect; I recall that I self-announced on the CTAF that I would be exiting Runway XX at Bravo Taxiway as I was rolling out/slowing down between the intersections with Runways XYL and XYR; and then - likely somewhat distracted by the brief verbal exchange with my wife; and as I had sufficiently slowed by that point - I simply made the next turnoff; which put me not on Bravo Taxiway but onto Runway XYR. Despite my longstanding familiarity with ZZZ airport; its taxiways and runways; I failed to pay the proper attention and exercise sufficient care to confirm that I was turning off the runway at the intersection that I had intended.Finally; as I turned onto and proceeded down Runway XYL (which I mistakenly thought to be Bravo Taxiway) I failed to notice the markings and signage that *should* have told me that I was not where I thought that I was. Again; I was engaged in conversation with my wife; and was quite clearly not paying the proper degree of attention to my surroundings as I taxied on an airport with which I complacently viewed myself as having sufficient familiarity to allow myself to 'relax' my attention. My obvious lack of sufficient attention to the markings and signage; by reason of my longstanding familiarity with the airport; would (and should) have alerted me at multiple points that I was *not* on Bravo Taxiway but; instead; on a runway.This error could have been easily avoided by just doing the things that I always try to do - and that I know I should do - each and every time that I fly. First; I allowed there to be a 'conversation;' albeit brief; with my wife during the landing and taxiing phases of the flight; there is simply no excuse for not maintaining a sterile cockpit from the time that the approach for landing begins until the aircraft is completely stopped. Second; I must continue to maintain heightened situational awareness on the ground while the aircraft is in motion - e.g. during landing; exiting the runway; and subsequent taxi operations - and; just as importantly; before restarting any movement on the ground after being stopped (e.g. after clearing the runway and stopping to retract flaps; etc.) Third; even when I am certain that I am in the right place; proceeding in the correct direction; on the correct surface area; I should constantly be questioning where I am and rechecking and reconfirming where I am and where (and how) I'm headed and intending to proceed. Fourth; I must better recognize when I do not feel as 'sharp' and confident as I normally do; and require; when flying and use that recognition to 'turn up' still further my attention and alertness and thereby seek to compensate for any such difficulties that I'm experiencing. This goes doubly when operating in a non-towered environment. Extra care and attention in these situations is *always* required; but even more so when; for example; my flight and observational skills may have been 'dulled' by a reduction or lack of recent flight time. It is my intention to never again allow complacency with my surroundings; e.g. at my 'home' airport; to serve as or justify a short-cut or lack of focused attention that reduces my situational awareness and attentiveness to everything going on around me.This experiencehas truly scared and shaken me. I was extremely lucky; and can only think about what might have happened had I not been so fortunate. My complacence based on close familiarity with my 'home' airport could have proven deadly. I hope to *never* have such an experience again; and I intend to do everything that I can to prevent a re-occurrence. This is a lesson that I shall never forget.
Pilot reported experiencing a runway incursion after landing.