Narrative:

On final approach to runway 23 I requested a 360 degree turn to lose excess altitude. I was instructed to make a right 360 degree turn and remain at or above 2500'. I repeated the instruction to the controller. After about 220 degrees of turn, an angry controller announced that he had not approved a 360 degree turn and instructed me to make an immediate left turn to a 360 degree heading. Apparently, he thought he had given me a vector of 360 degrees to follow jet traffic that was originally following me. Having requested a right 360 degree turn, I was listening for that instruction.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA WRONG HEADING CAUSED LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION WITH FOLLOWING JET TRAFFIC.

Narrative: ON FINAL APCH TO RWY 23 I REQUESTED A 360 DEG TURN TO LOSE EXCESS ALT. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO MAKE A RIGHT 360 DEG TURN AND REMAIN AT OR ABOVE 2500'. I REPEATED THE INSTRUCTION TO THE CTLR. AFTER ABOUT 220 DEGS OF TURN, AN ANGRY CTLR ANNOUNCED THAT HE HAD NOT APPROVED A 360 DEG TURN AND INSTRUCTED ME TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE LEFT TURN TO A 360 DEG HDG. APPARENTLY, HE THOUGHT HE HAD GIVEN ME A VECTOR OF 360 DEGS TO FOLLOW JET TFC THAT WAS ORIGINALLY FOLLOWING ME. HAVING REQUESTED A RIGHT 360 DEG TURN, I WAS LISTENING FOR THAT INSTRUCTION.

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.