Controller failed to vector reporter properly.

Attributes
ACN	86414
Time
Date	198805
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 4800
ASRS Report	86414
Person 2
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

Our large transport was on a 270 degree vector at 5000'. Copilot flying. It appeared that we were going to be vectored onto downwind for runway 35R. As we went through the downwind leg (still heading 270 degree) the captain asked the controller if she wanted us to follow a medium large transport that looked like it might be in sequence ahead of us for the same runway. The controller said, 'negative, maintain heading and altitude.' about 15 seconds later, just as we were flying through the final approach course, the controller (with a very unprofessional tone of voice) said 'turn left 140 degrees. I told you to follow the medium large transport.' this incident is particularly frustrating because we asked the controller about the situation as it was occurring. Also because, had it been our fault, we would have been violated. But, because it was a controller error, it is merely shrugged off with an 'oh well.' it is our lives as well as our licenses at stake. Her attitude of infallibility is conspicuously unprofessional.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR FAILED TO VECTOR REPORTER PROPERLY.

Narrative: OUR LGT WAS ON A 270 DEG VECTOR AT 5000'. COPLT FLYING. IT APPEARED THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE VECTORED ONTO DOWNWIND FOR RWY 35R. AS WE WENT THROUGH THE DOWNWIND LEG (STILL HDG 270 DEG) THE CAPT ASKED THE CTLR IF SHE WANTED US TO FOLLOW A MLG THAT LOOKED LIKE IT MIGHT BE IN SEQUENCE AHEAD OF US FOR THE SAME RWY. THE CTLR SAID, 'NEGATIVE, MAINTAIN HDG AND ALT.' ABOUT 15 SECS LATER, JUST AS WE WERE FLYING THROUGH THE FINAL APCH COURSE, THE CTLR (WITH A VERY UNPROFESSIONAL TONE OF VOICE) SAID 'TURN LEFT 140 DEGS. I TOLD YOU TO FOLLOW THE MLG.' THIS INCIDENT IS PARTICULARLY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE WE ASKED THE CTLR ABOUT THE SITUATION AS IT WAS OCCURRING. ALSO BECAUSE, HAD IT BEEN OUR FAULT, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN VIOLATED. BUT, BECAUSE IT WAS A CTLR ERROR, IT IS MERELY SHRUGGED OFF WITH AN 'OH WELL.' IT IS OUR LIVES AS WELL AS OUR LICENSES AT STAKE. HER ATTITUDE OF INFALLIBILITY IS CONSPICUOUSLY UNPROFESSIONAL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.