Cpr PIC makes an unnecessary and uncoord procedure turn when cleared for approach on VOR.

Attributes
ACN	156082
Time
Date	199009
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cgt airport : gyy
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2300 msl bound upper : 2300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord tower : ord
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 1200
ASRS Report	156082
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While being vectored to the gary, in airport at 3000' MSL, ord approach cleared us direct to the heights VOR at 2300' MSL and cleared us for the VOR DME runway 2 approach to gary and instructed us to report glink (FAF) to gary tower. I responded with the approach clearance readback and reported out of 3000 for 2300'. Crossing the VOR I made the appropriate turn outbnd to execute the full procedure since course reversal is required unless you are cleared for a straight in approach. At this time ATC (ord approach control) questioned my intentions. My reply was that I was outbnd doing the full procedure since we were not cleared for a straight in approach. ATC informed me that he in fact had cleared me for a straight in approach and that I should inform them if I wanted to do other than what I was instructed to do. There was never a conflict with other traffic during this approach. I can truthfully say that I did not hear ATC say that I was cleared for the straight in VOR DME runway 2 approach to gary, in or I would not have initiated the full procedure. My solution is, in the future, not only to read back the clearance, but also document it on paper.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR PIC MAKES AN UNNECESSARY AND UNCOORD PROC TURN WHEN CLEARED FOR APCH ON VOR.

Narrative: WHILE BEING VECTORED TO THE GARY, IN ARPT AT 3000' MSL, ORD APCH CLRED US DIRECT TO THE HEIGHTS VOR AT 2300' MSL AND CLRED US FOR THE VOR DME RWY 2 APCH TO GARY AND INSTRUCTED US TO RPT GLINK (FAF) TO GARY TWR. I RESPONDED WITH THE APCH CLRNC READBACK AND RPTED OUT OF 3000 FOR 2300'. XING THE VOR I MADE THE APPROPRIATE TURN OUTBND TO EXECUTE THE FULL PROC SINCE COURSE REVERSAL IS REQUIRED UNLESS YOU ARE CLRED FOR A STRAIGHT IN APCH. AT THIS TIME ATC (ORD APCH CTL) QUESTIONED MY INTENTIONS. MY REPLY WAS THAT I WAS OUTBND DOING THE FULL PROC SINCE WE WERE NOT CLRED FOR A STRAIGHT IN APCH. ATC INFORMED ME THAT HE IN FACT HAD CLRED ME FOR A STRAIGHT IN APCH AND THAT I SHOULD INFORM THEM IF I WANTED TO DO OTHER THAN WHAT I WAS INSTRUCTED TO DO. THERE WAS NEVER A CONFLICT WITH OTHER TFC DURING THIS APCH. I CAN TRUTHFULLY SAY THAT I DID NOT HEAR ATC SAY THAT I WAS CLRED FOR THE STRAIGHT IN VOR DME RWY 2 APCH TO GARY, IN OR I WOULD NOT HAVE INITIATED THE FULL PROC. MY SOLUTION IS, IN THE FUTURE, NOT ONLY TO READ BACK THE CLRNC, BUT ALSO DOCUMENT IT ON PAPER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.