Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40; Flight Crew Total 3000; Flight Crew Type 2000
Workload; Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Ground Incursion Taxiway; Ground Incursion Runway; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Weather
Mist built on windscreen in flight. Called DAB approach for vectors (125.8); but very busy. After 3 calls; transferred to 7FL6 frequency. Opened the canopy to locate airport. CTAF advised several ultralights in pattern without radios. Had a non-pilot passenger looking outside of canopy for traffic. Hazy; smoke; with windscreen misted over. 3 to 4 Traffic reports for Runway 23 and several others on frequency argued should be Runway 5. I called Runway 23 stating 'looking for traffic; please advise.' One pilot stated behind me; no worries. Heard a vehicle state crossing the active runway. Landed looking outside of windscreen due to mist on windscreen. Taxiing out noticed stop sign; watched carefully for any vehicle traffic and there was none. It was when I was turning towards tie downs that I noticed a very faded X.The extremely faded X on this runway and the combination for Runway 23 similarly located is a hazard. Three local pilots stated they did the same thing; one was last week. I do not have GPS; this would have helped; however I am purchasing one today. This airport is on my personal minimum list of 'NO FLY' unless I have perfectly blue skies and a pilot as a passenger for traffic alerts.
The reporter stated that because of the aircraft windscreen obscuration and environmental issues; it was simply not possible to see the runway clearly. Until the aircraft passed the faded X; the reporter did not know for certain if the aircraft had incurred the runway. Airport Management knows a problem exists because past taxiway incursion. The reporter is familiar with the airport; but the combination of factors lead to this serious error.
GA pilot on approach to 7FL6 Runway 23 reported landing on the east-west taxiway while confused by haze; smoke; and a windscreen obscured with mist. The deactivated runway extremely faded X was detected while taxiing to parking.