Narrative:

I was flying in the pattern performing touch and goes (4 prior) when I was heading downwind turning onto base. ATC instructed me to stay at or above 600 feet; so that an inspection truck could enter onto the runway. I initially was confused and asked them to repeat a second time. They did and I read back the instructions. I still was a little confused; but thought they were instructing me to land at a steeper descent rate. I was used to hearing the term 'go around' and by hearing 'at or above 600 feet' didn't match with what I normally heard in the past. So maintaining 600 feet or above would have resulted in me 'going around' and I just didn't understand. When ATC realized that I wasn't complying; they asked the inspection truck to 'hold short' of the runway and no incident resulted. I reviewed the pilot controller glossary and we weren't able to find the phrase 'restricted low approach at or above 600 feet'. Although; it was found in the air traffic controller's handbook (7110.65). But as my instructor suggested; it seems like it's asking a lot for a student pilot to review the ATC handbook. I found this to be a very confusing instruction when I was in a phase of flight; which required my complete attention on landing the airplane. For me; as a student pilot; is still a very new experience.I'm really sorry! I definitely understand the instructions now and won't make that mistake in the future. I will also make sure that I inform all ATC that I'm a 'student' pilot.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C150 student pilot and the non-participating flight instructor reported a communication breakdown resulted in a runway incursion.

Narrative: I was flying in the pattern performing touch and goes (4 prior) when I was heading downwind turning onto base. ATC instructed me to stay at or above 600 feet; so that an inspection truck could enter onto the runway. I initially was confused and asked them to repeat a second time. They did and I read back the instructions. I still was a little confused; but thought they were instructing me to land at a steeper descent rate. I was used to hearing the term 'go around' and by hearing 'at or above 600 feet' didn't match with what I normally heard in the past. So maintaining 600 feet or above would have resulted in me 'going around' and I just didn't understand. When ATC realized that I wasn't complying; they asked the inspection truck to 'hold short' of the runway and no incident resulted. I reviewed the Pilot Controller Glossary and we weren't able to find the phrase 'restricted low approach at or above 600 feet'. Although; it was found in the Air Traffic Controller's Handbook (7110.65). But as my instructor suggested; it seems like it's asking a lot for a student pilot to review the ATC handbook. I found this to be a very confusing instruction when I was in a phase of flight; which required my complete attention on landing the airplane. For me; as a student pilot; is still a very new experience.I'm really sorry! I definitely understand the instructions now and won't make that mistake in the future. I will also make sure that I inform all ATC that I'm a 'student' pilot.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.