Small aircraft X issued far and circling approach to another runway while on short final approach.

Attributes
ACN	202856
Time
Date	199112
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dca
State Reference	DC
Altitude	agl bound lower : 200 agl bound upper : 200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dca
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : circling
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
ASRS Report	202856
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Small aircraft X on short final dca tower cancelled landing clearance on runway 15, directed pilot to turn left fly behind landing t-tail commercial jet. On short final to runway 18, and land behind light transport on approach to runway 21. Unaware of reasons (possible collision avoidance), I executed ATC instructions, which involved 3 steep bank turns to avoid landing jet's wake, and prohibited zone over dc. All at 150-200 ft MSL, high drag (full flaps and gear). As PIC I felt I had no time to question reasons for these high risk, aerobatic maneuvers. Has I felt I had time to question or ask for alternatives I would have done so. In my opinion tower controller left PIC no alternative but to execute unreasonable maneuvers in crowded airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA X ISSUED FAR AND CIRCLING APCH TO ANOTHER RWY WHILE ON SHORT FINAL APCH.

Narrative: SMA X ON SHORT FINAL DCA TWR CANCELLED LNDG CLRNC ON RWY 15, DIRECTED PLT TO TURN L FLY BEHIND LNDG T-TAIL COMMERCIAL JET. ON SHORT FINAL TO RWY 18, AND LAND BEHIND LTT ON APCH TO RWY 21. UNAWARE OF REASONS (POSSIBLE COLLISION AVOIDANCE), I EXECUTED ATC INSTRUCTIONS, WHICH INVOLVED 3 STEEP BANK TURNS TO AVOID LNDG JET'S WAKE, AND PROHIBITED ZONE OVER DC. ALL AT 150-200 FT MSL, HIGH DRAG (FULL FLAPS AND GEAR). AS PIC I FELT I HAD NO TIME TO QUESTION REASONS FOR THESE HIGH RISK, AEROBATIC MANEUVERS. HAS I FELT I HAD TIME TO QUESTION OR ASK FOR ALTERNATIVES I WOULD HAVE DONE SO. IN MY OPINION TWR CTLR LEFT PIC NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO EXECUTE UNREASONABLE MANEUVERS IN CROWDED AIRSPACE.

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.