Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 18; Flight Crew Total 98; Flight Crew Type 95
Distraction; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
Accidentally aligned and landed on taxiway.There were several factors which led to pilot distraction: 1. Haze. Initial plan for cross-country flight was canceled due to reduced visibility.2. Concerned the engine would stop prior to landing. It had a rough start and engine was running roughly during the start of the run up. The worry stayed on the back of my mind during the pattern.3. Wearing relatively new prescription sunglasses.4. Once aligned on what I thought it was the runway I focused on the approach; looked towards the end of the path instead of checking the numbers at the beginning of the runway.5. Missed to raise the seat for better vision. 6. Confusion on radio calls due to ATIS information being reported incorrectly and similar call sign on the radio.In future:- I will create a checklist for final approach to confirm the right runway.- Do not practice landings if not comfortable when hazy.
Student pilot reported landing on a taxiway due to several distractions.