Traffic congestion at asn, al, during temporary class D tower operation.

Attributes
ACN	470120
Time
Date	200004
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : asn.airport
Altitude	msl single value : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Fog
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bhm.tracon tower : asn.tower
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Super King Air 350
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : asn.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Super King Air 350
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 3700 flight time type : 75
ASRS Report	470120
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllerb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Chart Or Publication Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure

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.

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.