Narrative:

Called tower 6 mi out, north of airport. Tower responded B737 was 15 out on final. Would be #1, us #2. Tower 'plan left downwind for runway 11.' this seemed strange, as we were actually positioned for a left base at 'call-in.' a left downwind would have been difficult. Tower then instructed a 'right downwind,' which further confused me, so I asked if right was correct, did tower have our aircraft in sight? We were now abeam runway 11. Tower corrected back to left downwind. Advised we were in the path of the B737. We were instructed to proceed upwind for runway 11, then cleared for a left downwind to runway 11. I think the controller misunderstood where we were when we reported north of the airport and failed to clear up the confusion with us. I think I have learned to more clearly explain, for instance, north and west of runway. Also, think the controller was working a sleepy sunday afternoon, and there was some poor instructing. In retrospect, tower could have helped by suggesting to cross midfield into a right downwind. This would have facilitated landing both aircraft without confusion.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C182 PLT GETS IN THE WAY OF A B737 ON A STRAIGHT IN FINAL WHEN TFC PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS BY TWR CTLR ARE CONFUSING TO HIM AT MSO, MT.

Narrative: CALLED TWR 6 MI OUT, N OF ARPT. TWR RESPONDED B737 WAS 15 OUT ON FINAL. WOULD BE #1, US #2. TWR 'PLAN L DOWNWIND FOR RWY 11.' THIS SEEMED STRANGE, AS WE WERE ACTUALLY POSITIONED FOR A L BASE AT 'CALL-IN.' A L DOWNWIND WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT. TWR THEN INSTRUCTED A 'R DOWNWIND,' WHICH FURTHER CONFUSED ME, SO I ASKED IF R WAS CORRECT, DID TWR HAVE OUR ACFT IN SIGHT? WE WERE NOW ABEAM RWY 11. TWR CORRECTED BACK TO L DOWNWIND. ADVISED WE WERE IN THE PATH OF THE B737. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO PROCEED UPWIND FOR RWY 11, THEN CLRED FOR A L DOWNWIND TO RWY 11. I THINK THE CTLR MISUNDERSTOOD WHERE WE WERE WHEN WE RPTED N OF THE ARPT AND FAILED TO CLR UP THE CONFUSION WITH US. I THINK I HAVE LEARNED TO MORE CLRLY EXPLAIN, FOR INSTANCE, N AND W OF RWY. ALSO, THINK THE CTLR WAS WORKING A SLEEPY SUNDAY AFTERNOON, AND THERE WAS SOME POOR INSTRUCTING. IN RETROSPECT, TWR COULD HAVE HELPED BY SUGGESTING TO CROSS MIDFIELD INTO A R DOWNWIND. THIS WOULD HAVE FACILITATED LNDG BOTH ACFT WITHOUT CONFUSION.

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.