Light Transport
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 255; Flight Crew Total 21019; Flight Crew Type 5100
Confusion; Situational Awareness; Workload; Communication Breakdown; Distraction
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Landing Without Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Ground Incursion Runway; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Procedure; Weather; Airport
I was approaching the Fairbanks (FAI) TRSA from the east on a Heading of 090 degrees (I was about 25 miles from FAI airport). After being handed off from Anchorage Center to Fairbanks Approach; I contacted Fairbanks approach and checked on with my call sign and altitude and I that I had received the ATIS information for Ladd Army Airfield. I advised Fairbanks Approach that I would be requesting a Visual approach to Ladd Army Air Field. I requested a lower altitude was given a clearance to descend to 4;000 Ft (may have actually been 4;300 ft.). When I arrived at the assigned altitude my forward visibility was estimated at 4 to 5 miles at my current altitude. However my visibility was somewhat obscured due to the moderate rain shower I was flying through. My forward visibility was also reduced by the rain hitting my windshield. I was subsequently advised by Fairbanks approach that I had same direction traffic. A VFR Cessna; 3 miles at my 12 o'clock position. I noticed on my TCAS screen confirmed the traffic. I asked if the traffic was for Ladd Army Airfield. The controller confirmed this. Shortly after receiving the confirmation; the Cessna dropped off my TCAS screen. I decided to cancel IFR and requested traffic advisories to Ladd Field. After a minute of two I was handed off to Ladd Tower. I thought it odd because the Ladd Tower had closed. I remembered thinking the controller meant to contact Ladd Tower Frequency for Common traffic advisories. I switched to 125.0 (Ladd tower frequency) I heard the Cessna entering the Ladd traffic pattern for RW 25R at about the same time I believed I had the Ladd Airfield in sight and I advised the Cessna of my position. The Cessna indicated that he would follow me for 25R so I elected to make a short approach to runway 25R. As I touched down on the Runway I became aware that I was not at Ladd field. I was horrified as I realized I landed at Fairbanks International (FAI) runway 20R. I had been on the Ladd advisory frequency advising a Cessna at a different airport about 6 miles away!!!I exited the runway at the first taxiway intersection that I could safely exit. I contacted Fairbanks Ground. I was given a phone number to call. Had I not spent so much time looking for traffic I would have noticed that I was still 6 miles from Ladd. If I would have not cancelled IFR I would have been advised distance to Ladd Field Had the Ladd Tower been open they would have advised me of my position. Mitigating circumstances:1. Visibility restricted by moderate rain shower. I could see the FAI airport at 3-4 miles however the airfield was blurred due to the rain on my windshield. The terrain and airport for Ladd Army Airfield looks very similar under the current conditions.2. The controller appeared to me to have handed me off to Ladd Field Tower (advisories) earlier than I had previous flights into the area (I assumed I was closer to Ladd Field).3. My previous experience in flying into Ladd field was just over two days. I was not as familiar with the area as I thought I was. 4. I was more concerned about traffic in front of me than monitoring my distance to Ladd field.5. The class C airspace for FAI and FBK are joined together. So when I was instructed to call the tower it may be that that tower was meant to be Fairbanks Tower. If the controller slipped and just said 'contact the tower' or 'contact Ladd tower' or 'Fairbanks tower;' even if the tower specified was not clear; it just seems to me that the controller should cite the frequency I.E. contact Ladd Tower 125.0 or Fairbanks tower 118.3. Especially when 2 Class C airspace airports are joined with common airport traffic area boundary. The addition to the controller giving frequency after the name of the tower should make it less likely for pilots to switch to the wrong tower frequency.What changes I made since this incident:I will no longer fly into a busy airport environment under VFR flight rules. I will always stayon my IFR flight plan until after either and instrument approach or a visual approach has resulted in landing at the airport of intended landing. I believe that by cancelling IFR while still in the air; I accepted all responsibility for navigation and traffic separation; dismissing the controllers that were there to help me. In the future I will spend more time familiarizing myself with the arrival areas of airports I am not as familiar with.
A pilot not thoroughly familiar with the Fairbanks area unintentionally landed at FAI VFR intending to land at FBK. Visibility was somewhat restricted in rain.