Small transport pilot begins approach without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	186911
Time
Date	199108
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ssr airport : jnu
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zan
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 36 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 36
ASRS Report	186911
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

At the end of an IFR flight from kenai, alaska, to sitka, alaska, I 'missed approach' at sitka and requested an approach to juneau, alaska airport. I was given a clearance to juneau via sisters VOR with such instructions as 'via lynns (IAF)' and 'no delay expected'. After leaving sisters inbound it appeared there was a conflict as the controller had cleared another plane back out the lda on a departure. Even though I had departed sisters and descended approximately 1000 ft the controller requested I 'pull up' as there was other traffic, and a short time later issued a 'cleared for the approach'. As conversations inbound led me to assume I was cleared for the approach the controller felt I was not.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT PLT BEGINS APCH WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: AT THE END OF AN IFR FLT FROM KENAI, ALASKA, TO SITKA, ALASKA, I 'MISSED APCH' AT SITKA AND REQUESTED AN APCH TO JUNEAU, ALASKA ARPT. I WAS GIVEN A CLRNC TO JUNEAU VIA SISTERS VOR WITH SUCH INSTRUCTIONS AS 'VIA LYNNS (IAF)' AND 'NO DELAY EXPECTED'. AFTER LEAVING SISTERS INBOUND IT APPEARED THERE WAS A CONFLICT AS THE CTLR HAD CLRED ANOTHER PLANE BACK OUT THE LDA ON A DEP. EVEN THOUGH I HAD DEPARTED SISTERS AND DSNDED APPROX 1000 FT THE CTLR REQUESTED I 'PULL UP' AS THERE WAS OTHER TFC, AND A SHORT TIME LATER ISSUED A 'CLRED FOR THE APCH'. AS CONVERSATIONS INBOUND LED ME TO ASSUME I WAS CLRED FOR THE APCH THE CTLR FELT I WAS NOT.

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.