GA small aircraft wrong heading caused less than standard separation with following jet traffic.

Attributes
ACN	96292
Time
Date	198810
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gso
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : gso artcc : zob
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 900 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	96292
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 5000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

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.

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.