Approach controller apparently forgot a previously issued clearance.

Attributes
ACN	501281
Time
Date	200102
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : pappi
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl single value : 10000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : c90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Fokker 100
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival star : pmm4
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	501281
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
ASRS Report	501280
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued alert controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Cleared direct ord. 10 mi east of pappi, we were cleared direct ord. Controller asked if we were on airway. We replied 'you cleared us direct ord.' controller's response was 'direct ord after pappi.' controller then issued a heading. Uneventful flight after that. Supplemental information from acn 501280: pmm right arrival prior to pappi given direct ord. Few mins later, asked if we were on airway to pappi. Told controller we were given direct ord. Controller gave us a vector toward pappi.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH CTLR APPARENTLY FORGOT A PREVIOUSLY ISSUED CLRNC.

Narrative: CLRED DIRECT ORD. 10 MI E OF PAPPI, WE WERE CLRED DIRECT ORD. CTLR ASKED IF WE WERE ON AIRWAY. WE REPLIED 'YOU CLRED US DIRECT ORD.' CTLR'S RESPONSE WAS 'DIRECT ORD AFTER PAPPI.' CTLR THEN ISSUED A HDG. UNEVENTFUL FLT AFTER THAT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 501280: PMM R ARR PRIOR TO PAPPI GIVEN DIRECT ORD. FEW MINS LATER, ASKED IF WE WERE ON AIRWAY TO PAPPI. TOLD CTLR WE WERE GIVEN DIRECT ORD. CTLR GAVE US A VECTOR TOWARD PAPPI.

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.