Cpr X approach clearance interpretation.

Attributes
ACN	223969
Time
Date	199210
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : elm
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : elm
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 9400
ASRS Report	223969
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Cpr X, while en route to airport, we (flight crew) requested and received clearance from center to navigation directly to the locator OM of elm airport. This was our route when turned over to elm approach control. The approach controller held us at 4000 ft MSL when the normal vectoring altitude is 3400 ft MSL. He stated that we were radar contact, however, looking back on the clearance, he never stated that it would be radar vectors to the approach. This lack of a clear and normally issued clearance led to some confusion. I, the PIC, proceeded as cleared 'direct alpine and cleared for the approach.' as this was not a steep intercept from the direction we were coming from, I simply hit the LOM and turned to proceed on the ILS when it hit me that we had not received radar vectors to do so. (The chart does not indicate nopt areas.) I quickly asked the copilot if he felt we needed to turn back out and do a procedure turn. His interpretation was the same as mine. We proceeded inbound and landed. The concern is that there is a controller in the area that plays 'gotcha' and I am afraid we were set up to do something out of the normal.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR X APCH CLRNC INTERP.

Narrative: CPR X, WHILE ENRTE TO ARPT, WE (FLC) REQUESTED AND RECEIVED CLRNC FROM CTR TO NAV DIRECTLY TO THE LOCATOR OM OF ELM ARPT. THIS WAS OUR RTE WHEN TURNED OVER TO ELM APCH CTL. THE APCH CTLR HELD US AT 4000 FT MSL WHEN THE NORMAL VECTORING ALT IS 3400 FT MSL. HE STATED THAT WE WERE RADAR CONTACT, HOWEVER, LOOKING BACK ON THE CLRNC, HE NEVER STATED THAT IT WOULD BE RADAR VECTORS TO THE APCH. THIS LACK OF A CLR AND NORMALLY ISSUED CLRNC LED TO SOME CONFUSION. I, THE PIC, PROCEEDED AS CLRED 'DIRECT ALPINE AND CLRED FOR THE APCH.' AS THIS WAS NOT A STEEP INTERCEPT FROM THE DIRECTION WE WERE COMING FROM, I SIMPLY HIT THE LOM AND TURNED TO PROCEED ON THE ILS WHEN IT HIT ME THAT WE HAD NOT RECEIVED RADAR VECTORS TO DO SO. (THE CHART DOES NOT INDICATE NOPT AREAS.) I QUICKLY ASKED THE COPLT IF HE FELT WE NEEDED TO TURN BACK OUT AND DO A PROC TURN. HIS INTERP WAS THE SAME AS MINE. WE PROCEEDED INBOUND AND LANDED. THE CONCERN IS THAT THERE IS A CTLR IN THE AREA THAT PLAYS 'GOTCHA' AND I AM AFRAID WE WERE SET UP TO DO SOMETHING OUT OF THE NORMAL.

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.