[citizenmike]

As a former pilot, this isn't so hard to imagine.

In good weather, a pilot might be told "the airport is 5 miles on a heading of 360 degrees" or something similar, and is expected to visually find the airport. Surprisingly, airports are not that easy to see unless you are within a couple of miles.

So if you are not familiar with the area and you fly the given heading and see an airport ahead, it's reasonable to assume it is your destination. If there is another airport nearby, as was the case here, well ...

I almost made this mistake a couple of times flying into new airports.

[Robe]

Awhile back..(long way back) a TWA was making an INSTRUMENT APPROCAH (ILS no less) to an airport in the ST. Louis area (forget which one ) and as he dropped out of the overcast ( holding a considerable crab due to cross winds) he spotted a runway directly in front of him 'bout 5-6 miles away. He immediately canceled his IFR clearance and continued the approach visually.... yup he landed at the wrong airport
Probabally the only pilot in history to land at the wrong airport via ILS approach

[July 4th]

There was a recent US commercial flight that did this - put it right down in a military airfield.