This should have been quite routine. Off runway 21 at Tucson, I followed V16 to Phoenix, which is almost a straight line, there being only one turn at TOTEC. All went well until I approached Phoenix. I got my clearance into the Bravo, was assigned to 25L, etc. But for some reason I wasn't on the ball, and I started a right downwind to 7R. As I entered the downwind leg, ATC asked me what my intentions were. “Right downwind 25R,” I confidently replied. Then it hit me that I was going the wrong way. I said I was sorry and made a very sharp 180° turn to go the other way. Oops! Fortunately, I was not given a telephone number to call. As I came abeam the threshold of 25L, I was cleared to land.Winds were very gusty and the landing was difficult. I didn't see gusts in the METAR, but it was gusty from over Ahwatukee all the way down to the landing on 25L. I gave the gear a workout, and my passenger did not seem to be impressed by my landing skills. Anyway, from there, it was just a simple taxi over to Cutter Aviation, my favorite FBO on the field, with its salvaged control tower (the old tower that Sky Harbor used for many decades, originally made from a fuel tank or something, from what I've heard).
It was a nice night and I was sorely tempted to go flying some more after dropping off my passenger (who was glad to get out of the aircraft after that landing), but I had a migraine by this time and, while a migraine doesn't prevent me from flying competently (mine are relatively mild), it takes the fun out of it.
