How do you accidentally do this? I don't get it.
There are these really big white numbers painted at the front end of every runway.[/QUOTE]
Not always, sometimes runway numbers are barely visible they're so worn off ... KFUL used to have the worst I've seen especially with a setting sun.
If you're landing on a ****ing taxiway at that airport, then I question those other incidents too. It's clear there's a lack of good judgement. I realize that if you fly long enough, stuff happens. But this is a pretty big screw up that endangered others. I don't care how potentially easy that is to do. There's no excuse and he needs to reevaluate this activity.
More likely vision. In example above at KFUL, was approaching in haze from the north (usually arrive from the east) ... I couldn't see the runway with setting sun and haze, finally picked it out ... runway markings were so worn it was barely visible.
EDIT: Returning on a night flight on SWA last October. KELPs lowest runway light setting is barely visible. SWA pilot lined up with the Biggs Army Airfield runway which had their REILs blinking, but no runway lights. They were down to about 300 feet before they started the go-around. KELP then turned the lights up ... can happen to the pros also.
