Narrative:

Apr/xa/00 talladega, al. Airport had been fogged in during the early morning, I arrived in the area and was told to expect the VOR approach landing runway 3 from birmingham approach control. I was advised that other aircraft were picking up the airport about 5 mi out, due to congestion, IFR cancellations were requested (ie, 5 mi out). Approximately 5 mi out, I saw the airport and was VFR. Unable to advise approach due to congestion on radio and still had not been switched to tower. I enter a left base for runway 3 behind 1 aircraft on final and 1 on a right base. At this point, approach switched me to tower. Tower advised that all VOR approachs should plan on a midfield crosswind to a right downwind. I advised that the approach controller was unaware of this. I proceeded on an upwind to enter the right pattern. Had another king air behind me remark about someone 'cutting in front of him.' (I had 2 close calls last yr). I should have switched to tower frequency when I heard the radio congestion, but things happened pretty quick, especially single pilot. I'm glad a reservation system has been started into talladega, but it's just a matter of time before a midair happens.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TFC CONGESTION AT ASN, AL, DURING TEMPORARY CLASS D TWR OP.

Narrative: APR/XA/00 TALLADEGA, AL. ARPT HAD BEEN FOGGED IN DURING THE EARLY MORNING, I ARRIVED IN THE AREA AND WAS TOLD TO EXPECT THE VOR APCH LNDG RWY 3 FROM BIRMINGHAM APCH CTL. I WAS ADVISED THAT OTHER ACFT WERE PICKING UP THE ARPT ABOUT 5 MI OUT, DUE TO CONGESTION, IFR CANCELLATIONS WERE REQUESTED (IE, 5 MI OUT). APPROX 5 MI OUT, I SAW THE ARPT AND WAS VFR. UNABLE TO ADVISE APCH DUE TO CONGESTION ON RADIO AND STILL HAD NOT BEEN SWITCHED TO TWR. I ENTER A L BASE FOR RWY 3 BEHIND 1 ACFT ON FINAL AND 1 ON A R BASE. AT THIS POINT, APCH SWITCHED ME TO TWR. TWR ADVISED THAT ALL VOR APCHS SHOULD PLAN ON A MIDFIELD XWIND TO A R DOWNWIND. I ADVISED THAT THE APCH CTLR WAS UNAWARE OF THIS. I PROCEEDED ON AN UPWIND TO ENTER THE R PATTERN. HAD ANOTHER KING AIR BEHIND ME REMARK ABOUT SOMEONE 'CUTTING IN FRONT OF HIM.' (I HAD 2 CLOSE CALLS LAST YR). I SHOULD HAVE SWITCHED TO TWR FREQ WHEN I HEARD THE RADIO CONGESTION, BUT THINGS HAPPENED PRETTY QUICK, ESPECIALLY SINGLE PLT. I'M GLAD A RESERVATION SYS HAS BEEN STARTED INTO TALLADEGA, BUT IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A MIDAIR HAPPENS.

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.