Reporter uses approach frequency. To attempt to get landing instructions rather than using tower.

Attributes
ACN	287231
Time
Date	199410
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mfe
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 20 agl bound upper : 20
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mfe tower : mfe
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	landing : go around landing other other
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 2200 flight time type : 85
ASRS Report	287231
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified atc
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After being cleared for the localizer back course 31 at mfe, I called the approach controller on 120.7 and asked if I was cleared to land because I was inside the FAF (I thought approach was combined with tower like many places I fly at night.) I called 3 times on approach frequency 120.7, but got no response except from another pilot notifying the controller that was trying to reach him. Instead of landing, I flew over the runway about 20 ft AGL for 1/3 of the runway before going around. I made another attempt to contact the controller on upwind before switching to tower frequency. Tower said they attempted to call several times. I called them on the phone after landing and they told me that I was on an approach frequency that had a limited range in that area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR USES APCH FREQ. TO ATTEMPT TO GET LNDG INSTRUCTIONS RATHER THAN USING TWR.

Narrative: AFTER BEING CLRED FOR THE LOC BC 31 AT MFE, I CALLED THE APCH CTLR ON 120.7 AND ASKED IF I WAS CLRED TO LAND BECAUSE I WAS INSIDE THE FAF (I THOUGHT APCH WAS COMBINED WITH TWR LIKE MANY PLACES I FLY AT NIGHT.) I CALLED 3 TIMES ON APCH FREQ 120.7, BUT GOT NO RESPONSE EXCEPT FROM ANOTHER PLT NOTIFYING THE CTLR THAT WAS TRYING TO REACH HIM. INSTEAD OF LNDG, I FLEW OVER THE RWY ABOUT 20 FT AGL FOR 1/3 OF THE RWY BEFORE GOING AROUND. I MADE ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO CONTACT THE CTLR ON UPWIND BEFORE SWITCHING TO TWR FREQ. TWR SAID THEY ATTEMPTED TO CALL SEVERAL TIMES. I CALLED THEM ON THE PHONE AFTER LNDG AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I WAS ON AN APCH FREQ THAT HAD A LIMITED RANGE IN THAT AREA.

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.