Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10; Flight Crew Total 105; Flight Crew Type 105
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Other / Unknown
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
While approaching DAL; I was asked by regional approach which runway I wanted to land on. I requested 13R then believe I corrected and asked for 13L because it was near the FBO. I was told to contact tower and continue my own navigation toward the runway. I contacted tower and was cleared to land even though I was still a little way out. I believe I read back the clearance as 13L. There was one departing aircraft in front of me; but no other aircraft on final. I crossed the final approach path of 13R and turned final onto 13L. At that point the controller realized I was on 13L; gave me a clearance on 13L; which I thought I already had; and I proceeded to land on 13L. After exiting the runway the controller informed me that it didn't create a problem this time because there wasn't traffic; but I had landed on the wrong runway. I apologized; stated I thought I had requested and been cleared for 13L; but volunteered that it must have been my mistake. He was very courteous and I tried to be the same. I certainly didn't want to complicate his job in any way! Because the active runway at my departing airport was runway 35; I anticipated the winds would be similar and I would land on 31R at DAL. That was the approach I visualized; so when I was vectored in for landing on the opposite runway; I think I may have been somewhat disoriented. This may have been a contributing factor in my initial request of 13R; then change to 13L and the ensuing miscommunication between the tower controller and myself. It appeared aircraft were also being vectored in to runway 31. An Airline jet had crossed right in front of me west to east; and then turned for an approach to 31; and I could see it for most of my approach. Regional approach was vectoring me on an easterly heading when I was already east of the airport. These factors contributed to my anticipation of being vectored in for 31R. It wasn't until I was close to the airport that I was told to turn left on a heading that brought me basically on a right downwind to 13R. Had I been vectored West of the airport; I think it would have realized which approach I was being set up on and been less confused by the runway reversal. Not that the approach control did anything wrong; it was just slightly confusing.
A C172 pilot was confused approaching DAL when the landing direction was not as expected. Runway 13R was requested and clearance granted when the pilot actually intended and lined up for 13L. Tower revised clearance to land on Runway 13L on short final.