Training in progress. Circling approach clearance interpretation problem.

Attributes
ACN	298894
Time
Date	199503
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : swf
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1040 msl bound upper : 1900
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : swf
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : go around
Route In Use	approach : visual approach : circling
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 5
ASRS Report	298894
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was the safety pilot on a practice IFR approach in VFR conditions. We were cleared ILS runway 9, circle-to-land runway 16 by approach. We were transferred to tower and told men and equipment were on runway 9 and we were cleared ILS runway 9 circle- to-land runway 16. The controller told me later on the phone that he told me to report OM inbound. I missed on the ILS at 1040 ft and never went below circling minimums. There was no one on the approach end of runway 9, the departure end had a few people on it 2 mi away. We were at least 1500 ft AGL by the time we got to them. I was asked to call the tower and they did not like the fact that I had flown down the runway (at altitude, minimum circling altitude or higher). I told him we should have talked about how I was going to circle, he expected me to circle differently. In the future, I will tell the tower exactly how I will circle. If he doesn't like it, he can advise me on how to circle. I planned to fly down runway 9 and make a left downwind so the PF could see the runway.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRAINING IN PROGRESS. CIRCLING APCH CLRNC INTERP PROB.

Narrative: I WAS THE SAFETY PLT ON A PRACTICE IFR APCH IN VFR CONDITIONS. WE WERE CLRED ILS RWY 9, CIRCLE-TO-LAND RWY 16 BY APCH. WE WERE TRANSFERRED TO TWR AND TOLD MEN AND EQUIP WERE ON RWY 9 AND WE WERE CLRED ILS RWY 9 CIRCLE- TO-LAND RWY 16. THE CTLR TOLD ME LATER ON THE PHONE THAT HE TOLD ME TO RPT OM INBOUND. I MISSED ON THE ILS AT 1040 FT AND NEVER WENT BELOW CIRCLING MINIMUMS. THERE WAS NO ONE ON THE APCH END OF RWY 9, THE DEP END HAD A FEW PEOPLE ON IT 2 MI AWAY. WE WERE AT LEAST 1500 FT AGL BY THE TIME WE GOT TO THEM. I WAS ASKED TO CALL THE TWR AND THEY DID NOT LIKE THE FACT THAT I HAD FLOWN DOWN THE RWY (AT ALT, MINIMUM CIRCLING ALT OR HIGHER). I TOLD HIM WE SHOULD HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW I WAS GOING TO CIRCLE, HE EXPECTED ME TO CIRCLE DIFFERENTLY. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL TELL THE TWR EXACTLY HOW I WILL CIRCLE. IF HE DOESN'T LIKE IT, HE CAN ADVISE ME ON HOW TO CIRCLE. I PLANNED TO FLY DOWN RWY 9 AND MAKE A L DOWNWIND SO THE PF COULD SEE THE RWY.

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.