PA-38 Tomahawk
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 24; Flight Crew Total 99; Flight Crew Type 99
Training / Qualification; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Ground Incursion Runway
Human Factors
I changed my flight plan just before departing ZZZ and failed to rebrief and thus did not have NOTAMS for my new destination airport. On approach; I listened to ATIS and made appropriate radio calls on CTAF. I was nervous about landing via a right pattern - having very little practice at it while a student - but successfully made right turns from downwind to base and base to final. On final I noticed an X just before the runway but since it wasn't lit; I assumed it did not apply. As a result of all these things; I landed on a closed runway. Maintenance helped me exit and taxi to the active runway so that I could depart. I spoke to the FAA and compliance action was taken.
PA-38 Pilot reported landing on a closed runway.