Small aircraft pilot did procedure turn when none required.

Attributes
ACN	121283
Time
Date	198909
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1400 msl bound upper : 1400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mcc tower : sac
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : circling
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 3700
ASRS Report	121283
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After being cleared for the NDB 02 approach, circle to land 20 at mcc, I began the approach by turning outbnd in holding for 1 minute (altitude 1400' MSL). As I began my turn back inbound to the LOM at 55 seconds elapsed time, I was notified by tower, whose control I was under, that I should turn back inbound to the OM as approach had not expected me to do the procedure turn. I asked why, and they said I'd have to talk to approach because they were not sure. On landing roll they said that approach said that the procedure was a nopt. I looked at my commercial plate several times and said, 'I sure can't find the nopt annotation.' they said, 'look way down in the corner by coops intersection.' sure enough, there it was. While I don't believe there was any problem, I want to record this to encourage other pilots to look closely at the approach plate, reading all the fine print.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT DID PROC TURN WHEN NONE REQUIRED.

Narrative: AFTER BEING CLRED FOR THE NDB 02 APCH, CIRCLE TO LAND 20 AT MCC, I BEGAN THE APCH BY TURNING OUTBND IN HOLDING FOR 1 MINUTE (ALT 1400' MSL). AS I BEGAN MY TURN BACK INBND TO THE LOM AT 55 SECS ELAPSED TIME, I WAS NOTIFIED BY TWR, WHOSE CTL I WAS UNDER, THAT I SHOULD TURN BACK INBND TO THE OM AS APCH HAD NOT EXPECTED ME TO DO THE PROC TURN. I ASKED WHY, AND THEY SAID I'D HAVE TO TALK TO APCH BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT SURE. ON LNDG ROLL THEY SAID THAT APCH SAID THAT THE PROC WAS A NOPT. I LOOKED AT MY COMMERCIAL PLATE SEVERAL TIMES AND SAID, 'I SURE CAN'T FIND THE NOPT ANNOTATION.' THEY SAID, 'LOOK WAY DOWN IN THE CORNER BY COOPS INTXN.' SURE ENOUGH, THERE IT WAS. WHILE I DON'T BELIEVE THERE WAS ANY PROB, I WANT TO RECORD THIS TO ENCOURAGE OTHER PLTS TO LOOK CLOSELY AT THE APCH PLATE, READING ALL THE FINE PRINT.

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.