Clearance disputed by approach controller and small transport pilot.

Attributes
ACN	180030
Time
Date	199105
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : new
State Reference	LA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : msy tower : lax
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 12400 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	180030
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While on an IFR flight between gulf port, mi, and new orleans, la, I was cleared to descend to 3000' and told to expect a visibility approach. Approximately one min later I reported the airport at new orleans-lakefront in sight. At that time I heard the controller clear me for a visibility approach. Approximately 5 mins later while descending the controller asked me to state my clearance altitude, I told him that I had been cleared for a visibility approach. He told me 'that was a negative, I had not been cleared for the visibility approach.' I believe that I heard my aircraft number cleared for the visibility approach. I am not sure what caused the misunderstanding, but this is not the first time I have had a similar occurrence with new orleans approach control.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLRNC DISPUTED BY APCH CTLR AND SMT PLT.

Narrative: WHILE ON AN IFR FLT BTWN GULF PORT, MI, AND NEW ORLEANS, LA, I WAS CLRED TO DSND TO 3000' AND TOLD TO EXPECT A VIS APCH. APPROX ONE MIN LATER I RPTED THE ARPT AT NEW ORLEANS-LAKEFRONT IN SIGHT. AT THAT TIME I HEARD THE CTLR CLR ME FOR A VIS APCH. APPROX 5 MINS LATER WHILE DSNDING THE CTLR ASKED ME TO STATE MY CLRNC ALT, I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD BEEN CLRED FOR A VIS APCH. HE TOLD ME 'THAT WAS A NEGATIVE, I HAD NOT BEEN CLRED FOR THE VIS APCH.' I BELIEVE THAT I HEARD MY ACFT NUMBER CLRED FOR THE VIS APCH. I AM NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THE MISUNDERSTANDING, BUT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HAD A SIMILAR OCCURRENCE WITH NEW ORLEANS APCH CTL.

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.