Pilot does not understand meaning of light signals from tower.

Attributes
ACN	278573
Time
Date	199407
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : roc
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : roc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 74 flight time total : 1238 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	278573
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	incursion : landing without clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were on a cross country from elmira to rochester to dansville. We contacted rochester approach on 119.55 and received a clearance into class C. Rochester approach told us to contact tower on 118.3. We attempted but could not and went back to approach. They told us to try again. We tried roc tower again and briefly heard them but lost radio contact. By this time we were on short final. When we contacted rochester approach the first time, we told them we would do a touch and go. Depart south to gee VOR. On short final I noticed a green light gun. I decided to do my touch and go and depart as I told approach I would. On my climb out I changed frequencys to roc departure. They cleared me to gee and told me to phone roc tower when I landed. I landed in dansville and called them. The controller I talked to said I should have landed, not done a touch and go. He also said there was no conflict with other traffic. I wrongly assumed the green light cleared me to do the type landing I requested.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT DOES NOT UNDERSTAND MEANING OF LIGHT SIGNALS FROM TWR.

Narrative: WE WERE ON A XCOUNTRY FROM ELMIRA TO ROCHESTER TO DANSVILLE. WE CONTACTED ROCHESTER APCH ON 119.55 AND RECEIVED A CLRNC INTO CLASS C. ROCHESTER APCH TOLD US TO CONTACT TWR ON 118.3. WE ATTEMPTED BUT COULD NOT AND WENT BACK TO APCH. THEY TOLD US TO TRY AGAIN. WE TRIED ROC TWR AGAIN AND BRIEFLY HEARD THEM BUT LOST RADIO CONTACT. BY THIS TIME WE WERE ON SHORT FINAL. WHEN WE CONTACTED ROCHESTER APCH THE FIRST TIME, WE TOLD THEM WE WOULD DO A TOUCH AND GO. DEPART S TO GEE VOR. ON SHORT FINAL I NOTICED A GREEN LIGHT GUN. I DECIDED TO DO MY TOUCH AND GO AND DEPART AS I TOLD APCH I WOULD. ON MY CLB OUT I CHANGED FREQS TO ROC DEP. THEY CLRED ME TO GEE AND TOLD ME TO PHONE ROC TWR WHEN I LANDED. I LANDED IN DANSVILLE AND CALLED THEM. THE CTLR I TALKED TO SAID I SHOULD HAVE LANDED, NOT DONE A TOUCH AND GO. HE ALSO SAID THERE WAS NO CONFLICT WITH OTHER TFC. I WRONGLY ASSUMED THE GREEN LIGHT CLRED ME TO DO THE TYPE LNDG I REQUESTED.

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.