Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 22; Flight Crew Total 623; Flight Crew Type 520
Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Airport
Upon approach to DET; I was flying at 3;000 FT. Detroit Approach gave me vectors direct to Detroit City Airport. About 7 miles back; I could not spot the airport. The Tower light was not visible. As I got closer; ATC gave me vectors for right hand pattern and a visual approach. I still could not see the runway. I was cleared visual approach Runway 15. As I entered a right downwind; I still could not see the runway; I informed ATC. I was instructed to switch to Tower frequency. The Tower Controller put the lights on full. I still could not see the airport. I was finally able to make out Runway 25/07; but a majority of the runway lights were not light or burned out. I was finally able to make out some what of the runway; and then I saw the end of Runway 15. Coming in on approach was extremely difficult to make out the airport due to the burned out runway lights. As I turned final; I could barely make out the runway since numerous lights were burned out. At least the PAPI's were functional and I was able to make a safe landing without incident and with the Control Tower's assistance with me.
C172 vectored for a visual approach to Runway 15 at DET reported that the runway was very difficult to identify because of numerous burned out runway lights.