Some confusion existed with ATC about the approach procedure for an ATP pilot flying the VOR-B appro...

Attributes
ACN	465576
Time
Date	200003
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bec.airport
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl single value : 2200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Beechcraft, Beech Aircraft Corp Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Route In Use	approach : instrument non precision arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 6050 flight time type : 2
ASRS Report	465576
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : developmental
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

En route to bec, beech factory, to select new aircraft. Ict approach gave me a new heading and 'vectors for VOR-B approach.' later gave new heading and 'intercept approach course bec - VOR-B, maintain 3000 ft until established' and I thought she said cleared for VOR-B approach. At 24 DME for ict VOR, I proceeded to go down at FAF. When at 3 mi from airport and at 2200 ft MSL she asked about my altitude, being at 2200 ft MSL. I stated I was cleared for approach and was visual. Another male controller took over and I stated the same. He told me to contact beech tower. I did and landed. I was having trouble with headset and switched to another headset and could only hear out of 1 earpiece. I thought I was cleared for approach. Knowing I was having trouble with headset, I should have verified the clearance. Only the tapes will tell if I was actually cleared for approach. However, if she had intended for me to go to initial approach fix and then reverse course for 24+ mi and do procedure turn, I guess I was subconsciously thinking she would not have said vectors for VOR-B.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SOME CONFUSION EXISTED WITH ATC ABOUT THE APCH PROC FOR AN ATP PLT FLYING THE VOR-B APCH INTO BEC, KS.

Narrative: ENRTE TO BEC, BEECH FACTORY, TO SELECT NEW ACFT. ICT APCH GAVE ME A NEW HDG AND 'VECTORS FOR VOR-B APCH.' LATER GAVE NEW HDG AND 'INTERCEPT APCH COURSE BEC - VOR-B, MAINTAIN 3000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED' AND I THOUGHT SHE SAID CLRED FOR VOR-B APCH. AT 24 DME FOR ICT VOR, I PROCEEDED TO GO DOWN AT FAF. WHEN AT 3 MI FROM ARPT AND AT 2200 FT MSL SHE ASKED ABOUT MY ALT, BEING AT 2200 FT MSL. I STATED I WAS CLRED FOR APCH AND WAS VISUAL. ANOTHER MALE CTLR TOOK OVER AND I STATED THE SAME. HE TOLD ME TO CONTACT BEECH TWR. I DID AND LANDED. I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH HEADSET AND SWITCHED TO ANOTHER HEADSET AND COULD ONLY HEAR OUT OF 1 EARPIECE. I THOUGHT I WAS CLRED FOR APCH. KNOWING I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH HEADSET, I SHOULD HAVE VERIFIED THE CLRNC. ONLY THE TAPES WILL TELL IF I WAS ACTUALLY CLRED FOR APCH. HOWEVER, IF SHE HAD INTENDED FOR ME TO GO TO INITIAL APCH FIX AND THEN REVERSE COURSE FOR 24+ MI AND DO PROC TURN, I GUESS I WAS SUBCONSCIOUSLY THINKING SHE WOULD NOT HAVE SAID VECTORS FOR VOR-B.

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.

Some confusion existed with ATC about the approach procedure for an ATP pilot flying the VOR-B approach into bec, ks.