Narrative:

Small aircraft X contacted southwest regional approach on published frequency 120.50. Stated request: vectors practice ILS to meacham runway 16L with low pass and departure to south. (Traffic was landing/taking off 34R at meacham.) received clearance and squawk XXXX. No response from ATC controller of radar contact or request for identify. Pilot reporter continued heading 360 degrees for next 20 min. No contact with ATC. Received heading 060 degrees from ATC, flew heading 060 for 10 mi when ATC advised to 'turn heading 180 degrees to localizer.' pilot reporter turned heading 180 degrees, intercepted localizer. No direction from ATC to contact meacham tower (118.30). Pilot reporter crossed OM, called ATC for instructions. ATC advised, 'meacham tower on 118.3.' pilot reporter contacted meacham tower, informed tower controller of position and that ATC had not handled handoff. Small aircraft Y departing meacham on 34R passed high and to the left (500' up, 2000' horizontal). Tower advised immediate left turn to southeast. Tower controller advised not to cross OM west/O contacting them when they were busy. Pilot reporter explained that ATC had not instructed a frequency change until initiated by pilot reporter. Tower controller said ok, he understood, and asked if we wanted to go back to approach control. Pilot reporter declined and returned to home field. VMC existed. Pilot reporter's pilot/passenger both looking outside since were advised to remain VFR. No hood work was being conducted. Purpose was to hear tone of marker beacon receiver. Pilot reporter, pilot passenger maintained visibility contact with all traffic. ATC contacted aircraft only twice after initial contact for transponder code. First to turn heading 060 degrees, second to turn heading 180 degrees for localizer. A third and final time was on pilot's request for frequency change. Meacham tower was busy and helpful.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA X HAD TRAFFIC PATTERN CONFLICT WITH SMA Y. APCH CTLR FAILED TO CHANGE SMA X TO TWR FREQ. OPERATIONAL DEVIATION.

Narrative: SMA X CONTACTED SW REGIONAL APCH ON PUBLISHED FREQ 120.50. STATED REQUEST: VECTORS PRACTICE ILS TO MEACHAM RWY 16L WITH LOW PASS AND DEP TO S. (TFC WAS LNDG/TAKING OFF 34R AT MEACHAM.) RECEIVED CLRNC AND SQUAWK XXXX. NO RESPONSE FROM ATC CTLR OF RADAR CONTACT OR REQUEST FOR IDENT. PLT RPTR CONTINUED HDG 360 DEGS FOR NEXT 20 MIN. NO CONTACT WITH ATC. RECEIVED HDG 060 DEGS FROM ATC, FLEW HDG 060 FOR 10 MI WHEN ATC ADVISED TO 'TURN HDG 180 DEGS TO LOC.' PLT RPTR TURNED HDG 180 DEGS, INTERCEPTED LOC. NO DIRECTION FROM ATC TO CONTACT MEACHAM TWR (118.30). PLT RPTR CROSSED OM, CALLED ATC FOR INSTRUCTIONS. ATC ADVISED, 'MEACHAM TWR ON 118.3.' PLT RPTR CONTACTED MEACHAM TWR, INFORMED TWR CTLR OF POS AND THAT ATC HAD NOT HANDLED HDOF. SMA Y DEPARTING MEACHAM ON 34R PASSED HIGH AND TO THE LEFT (500' UP, 2000' HORIZ). TWR ADVISED IMMEDIATE LEFT TURN TO SE. TWR CTLR ADVISED NOT TO CROSS OM W/O CONTACTING THEM WHEN THEY WERE BUSY. PLT RPTR EXPLAINED THAT ATC HAD NOT INSTRUCTED A FREQ CHANGE UNTIL INITIATED BY PLT RPTR. TWR CTLR SAID OK, HE UNDERSTOOD, AND ASKED IF WE WANTED TO GO BACK TO APCH CTL. PLT RPTR DECLINED AND RETURNED TO HOME FIELD. VMC EXISTED. PLT RPTR'S PLT/PAX BOTH LOOKING OUTSIDE SINCE WERE ADVISED TO REMAIN VFR. NO HOOD WORK WAS BEING CONDUCTED. PURPOSE WAS TO HEAR TONE OF MARKER BEACON RECEIVER. PLT RPTR, PLT PAX MAINTAINED VIS CONTACT WITH ALL TFC. ATC CONTACTED ACFT ONLY TWICE AFTER INITIAL CONTACT FOR XPONDER CODE. FIRST TO TURN HDG 060 DEGS, SECOND TO TURN HDG 180 DEGS FOR LOC. A THIRD AND FINAL TIME WAS ON PLT'S REQUEST FOR FREQ CHANGE. MEACHAM TWR WAS BUSY AND HELPFUL.

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.