A private rated pilot flying a C172 at cyx reports a late handoff from approach control to tower.

Attributes
ACN	443146
Time
Date	199907
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mdt.tracon
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mdt.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : straight in
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 1500 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	443146
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

VFR flight from N94 to cxy. Distance is approximately 15 NM. Harrisburg approach control provided squawk code for TRSA service. Approach made late handoff to tower when I was 2.7 NM from runway. Tower, despite BRITE display available, seemed surprised and disturbed. Approach was busy and only communication prior to handoff was about 8 NM from airport, saying, 'plan straight-in runway 8.' this is a recurring problem at capital city, where coordination with approach and departure is poor. Approach seems to 'lose' planes or leave them feeling forgotten after a vector is given.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PVT RATED PLT FLYING A C172 AT CYX RPTS A LATE HDOF FROM APCH CTL TO TWR.

Narrative: VFR FLT FROM N94 TO CXY. DISTANCE IS APPROX 15 NM. HARRISBURG APCH CTL PROVIDED SQUAWK CODE FOR TRSA SVC. APCH MADE LATE HDOF TO TWR WHEN I WAS 2.7 NM FROM RWY. TWR, DESPITE BRITE DISPLAY AVAILABLE, SEEMED SURPRISED AND DISTURBED. APCH WAS BUSY AND ONLY COM PRIOR TO HDOF WAS ABOUT 8 NM FROM ARPT, SAYING, 'PLAN STRAIGHT-IN RWY 8.' THIS IS A RECURRING PROB AT CAPITAL CITY, WHERE COORD WITH APCH AND DEP IS POOR. APCH SEEMS TO 'LOSE' PLANES OR LEAVE THEM FEELING FORGOTTEN AFTER A VECTOR IS GIVEN.

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.