Narrative:

The problem arose from miscom between the tower and I. I was told 'clear to land runway 24,' while on final. As I came closer to the airport, the tower said 'can you make runway 15L?' I (it was my understanding to enter a base and land runway 15L) said 'yes, I can.' the tower then proceeded when I was short final to confirm I could make runway 15L. My understanding was try and land runway 15L for other traffic reasons. The tower meant (wanted) for me to land runway 24 and make the first available left turn onto runway 15L due to traffic on final. Due to a miscom, this runway incursion occurred. I should, next time, clarify a command like that in the future. The taxi should be a lot more concise on what they say and how they say it. If both the tower and I would have done that, I believe something like this would have never happened. No other aircraft was in harm's way. The aircraft behind us did a go around. I'm just now getting over this and would like to pass on the word, concise communication is essential for safe flight.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT LANDS ON THE WRONG RWY AT ISP.

Narrative: THE PROB AROSE FROM MISCOM BTWN THE TWR AND I. I WAS TOLD 'CLR TO LAND RWY 24,' WHILE ON FINAL. AS I CAME CLOSER TO THE ARPT, THE TWR SAID 'CAN YOU MAKE RWY 15L?' I (IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING TO ENTER A BASE AND LAND RWY 15L) SAID 'YES, I CAN.' THE TWR THEN PROCEEDED WHEN I WAS SHORT FINAL TO CONFIRM I COULD MAKE RWY 15L. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS TRY AND LAND RWY 15L FOR OTHER TFC REASONS. THE TWR MEANT (WANTED) FOR ME TO LAND RWY 24 AND MAKE THE FIRST AVAILABLE L TURN ONTO RWY 15L DUE TO TFC ON FINAL. DUE TO A MISCOM, THIS RWY INCURSION OCCURRED. I SHOULD, NEXT TIME, CLARIFY A COMMAND LIKE THAT IN THE FUTURE. THE TAXI SHOULD BE A LOT MORE CONCISE ON WHAT THEY SAY AND HOW THEY SAY IT. IF BOTH THE TWR AND I WOULD HAVE DONE THAT, I BELIEVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED. NO OTHER ACFT WAS IN HARM'S WAY. THE ACFT BEHIND US DID A GAR. I'M JUST NOW GETTING OVER THIS AND WOULD LIKE TO PASS ON THE WORD, CONCISE COM IS ESSENTIAL FOR SAFE FLT.

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.