USAF C-17 lands at small local airport instead of McDill

[viking9]

A USAF C-17 yesterday landed at a tiny island airport, screeching to halt within just 10 feet from the end of the runway. It was supposed to land across Florida's Hillsborough Bay at MacDill Air Force Base but instead touched down at the Peter O.Knight Airport  4 miles away.

Great video.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2176884/Peter-O-Knight-Airport-Watch-incredible-moment-pilot-accidentally-lands-huge-Air-Force-jet-tiny-island-airport.html

Ac info: AE2FAB 08-8199 305AMW/6AS based at KWRI. This ac regularly transits UK on REACH flights. Last recorded him as RCH503 on the 14th July.

[Anmer]

Well found Tom.

The USAF won't confirm if it was pilot or mechanical error. 

But a different crew flew it back to MacDill.

Never saw anything big landing at Sibson instead of Wittering.

[viking9]

Never saw anything big landing at Sibson instead of Wittering.

[Ian K]

Don't ATC monitor the flights ? surely they would have known it was landing at the wrong airport !

[Anmer]

I joined the Norwich circuit once, No. 2 to land.

The one in front called the tower to confirm finals for 22 (it was in use then) to which the tower replied "I think you'll find you're on finals for Coltishall".

Easily done. 

[Roadrunner]

The report implies that the crew had brought the flight from SE Asia so would have been a long flight. Maybe a bit jaded, no excuse for making that mistake but I recall this happening before with a C5 at another US airport.

Mike

[viking9]

Don't ATC monitor the flights ? surely they would have known it was landing at the wrong airport !

In a situation like that, where the two runways are aligned and just a few miles apart, especially with an aircraft such as the C-17, I would guess it is probably difficult for controllers at a busy airbase to be aware that the aircraft is unintentionally too high on the approach.