VFR small transport atx Y approaching det receives a series of contradictory clrncs for runway assig...

Attributes
ACN	144701
Time
Date	199004
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : det
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : det artcc : zdc
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 6800 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	144701
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

VFR inbound to det at approximately XX00. Called local controller (tower) at approximately 15 mi west. At first all I was told was to expect runway 15. I was told to report 3 mi west of field, which I did. When I made my 3 mi call, I was told that I would be following traffic for runway 33, and that I should plan left downwind for 33. Then the tower said to execute a 180 degree turn for right downwind for runway 15. I complied with this directive and proceeded through a right 180 degree turn to fly northwest right downwind for runway 15. Then the tower advised that I was once again to follow traffic for runway 33. I made a left 180 degree turn and proceeded southeast on a left downwind, and approached the intersection of runway 25/07. The tower requested that I keep it in close (or tight) and that I was cleared to land. I made a close in turn from downwind to base to final and landed normally on runway 33. Tower directed that I go to ground. Nothing said by ATC. The landing and approach were routine; however, it is my belief that the crew of an air carrier aircraft made an offhand remark. I received a notice of investigation letter from the FAA indicating that on that date I operated carelessly. I do not know if this letter is in response to a compliant about the approach and landing, however if it is deemed by some in retrospect to have been a careless operation (which I would dispute), it resulted from det being extremely confused and disorganized.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR SMT ATX Y APCHING DET RECEIVES A SERIES OF CONTRADICTORY CLRNCS FOR RWY ASSIGNMENT, THEN TOLD TO FLY A TIGHT PATTERN AND CLEARED TO LAND. SUBSEQUENTLY INVESTIGATED FOR CARELESS OPERATION.

Narrative: VFR INBND TO DET AT APPROX XX00. CALLED LCL CTLR (TWR) AT APPROX 15 MI W. AT FIRST ALL I WAS TOLD WAS TO EXPECT RWY 15. I WAS TOLD TO RPT 3 MI W OF FIELD, WHICH I DID. WHEN I MADE MY 3 MI CALL, I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD BE FOLLOWING TFC FOR RWY 33, AND THAT I SHOULD PLAN LEFT DOWNWIND FOR 33. THEN THE TWR SAID TO EXECUTE A 180 DEG TURN FOR RIGHT DOWNWIND FOR RWY 15. I COMPLIED WITH THIS DIRECTIVE AND PROCEEDED THROUGH A RIGHT 180 DEG TURN TO FLY NW RIGHT DOWNWIND FOR RWY 15. THEN THE TWR ADVISED THAT I WAS ONCE AGAIN TO FOLLOW TFC FOR RWY 33. I MADE A LEFT 180 DEG TURN AND PROCEEDED SE ON A LEFT DOWNWIND, AND APCHED THE INTXN OF RWY 25/07. THE TWR REQUESTED THAT I KEEP IT IN CLOSE (OR TIGHT) AND THAT I WAS CLRED TO LAND. I MADE A CLOSE IN TURN FROM DOWNWIND TO BASE TO FINAL AND LANDED NORMALLY ON RWY 33. TWR DIRECTED THAT I GO TO GND. NOTHING SAID BY ATC. THE LNDG AND APCH WERE ROUTINE; HOWEVER, IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE CREW OF AN ACR ACFT MADE AN OFFHAND REMARK. I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION LETTER FROM THE FAA INDICATING THAT ON THAT DATE I OPERATED CARELESSLY. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS LETTER IS IN RESPONSE TO A COMPLIANT ABOUT THE APCH AND LNDG, HOWEVER IF IT IS DEEMED BY SOME IN RETROSPECT TO HAVE BEEN A CARELESS OPERATION (WHICH I WOULD DISPUTE), IT RESULTED FROM DET BEING EXTREMELY CONFUSED AND DISORGANIZED.

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

VFR small transport atx Y approaching det receives a series of contradictory clrncs for runway assignment, then told to fly a tight pattern and cleared to land. Subsequently investigated for careless operation.