Close proximity GA-small aircraft small aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	93898
Time
Date	198809
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : flo
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : flo
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 275 flight time type : 22
ASRS Report	93898
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 3000 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After completing practice ILS and VOR approachs, I asked for and received NDB holding in IMC. While on inbound leg #2 controller asked my intentions after approach. I told him, one more circuit in holding, then I'd leave the area to return to the plane's home field. Though I don't request an approach, he issued missed approach instructions including heading and altitude. I thought that he assumed I wanted an approach, so I thought I'd go ahead and do one. I asked, 'am I cleared for the approach at this time?' he said, 'cleared NDB 9 approach.' by then I crossed the NDB, accepted the clearance for the approach, and began my descent to MDA. He called me and said he thought I was doing one more circuit. I said I thought he'd cleared me for approach. By then I was in VMC, and executed a climbing turn to avoid VFR traffic inbound. The confusion began when he issued missed approach instructions for an approach I didn't request. I decided to take the approach, and interpreted his approach clearance as a go ahead to begin. He assumed I'd first do one more holding pattern.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLOSE PROX GA-SMA SMA.

Narrative: AFTER COMPLETING PRACTICE ILS AND VOR APCHS, I ASKED FOR AND RECEIVED NDB HOLDING IN IMC. WHILE ON INBND LEG #2 CTLR ASKED MY INTENTIONS AFTER APCH. I TOLD HIM, ONE MORE CIRCUIT IN HOLDING, THEN I'D LEAVE THE AREA TO RETURN TO THE PLANE'S HOME FIELD. THOUGH I DON'T REQUEST AN APCH, HE ISSUED MISSED APCH INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDING HDG AND ALT. I THOUGHT THAT HE ASSUMED I WANTED AN APCH, SO I THOUGHT I'D GO AHEAD AND DO ONE. I ASKED, 'AM I CLRED FOR THE APCH AT THIS TIME?' HE SAID, 'CLRED NDB 9 APCH.' BY THEN I CROSSED THE NDB, ACCEPTED THE CLRNC FOR THE APCH, AND BEGAN MY DSCNT TO MDA. HE CALLED ME AND SAID HE THOUGHT I WAS DOING ONE MORE CIRCUIT. I SAID I THOUGHT HE'D CLRED ME FOR APCH. BY THEN I WAS IN VMC, AND EXECUTED A CLBING TURN TO AVOID VFR TFC INBND. THE CONFUSION BEGAN WHEN HE ISSUED MISSED APCH INSTRUCTIONS FOR AN APCH I DIDN'T REQUEST. I DECIDED TO TAKE THE APCH, AND INTERPRETED HIS APCH CLRNC AS A GO AHEAD TO BEGIN. HE ASSUMED I'D FIRST DO ONE MORE HOLDING PATTERN.

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.