GA pilot initiates circling approach before receiving clearance to do so.

Attributes
ACN	154660
Time
Date	199008
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atw
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1300 msl bound upper : 1320
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : atw
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : circling approach : straight in
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 441 flight time type : 325
ASRS Report	154660
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

From 4-8/90, I flew 25 hours/night, 16 night takeoffs/lndgs, 19.1 hours IFR, 12 approachs, all in type. Only the NDB approach was available at atw on this day. Smooth, accurate flight up to approach. Green bay approach directed descent to 2600' even though approach plate calls for 2900' until established. Frequency changed from green bay approach to tower (atw). Once established on NDB 120 degree inbound, I descended to 1400' per the approach plate. I reported the edina intersection and descended to 1320' as permitted. I then overcorrected for a slight course correction and had to bring myself back on course. With the corrections, I was directly over runway 11 on course (120 degrees) and the entire airport was visible. I began to descend but was too high to make a proper landing and requested the tower for 'permission to circle to land.' the tower asked altitude and I responded '1300',' west/O trying to determine the exact altitude. I had good ground contact and was given a right pattern to land runway 11. Thus, although I felt I did a pretty good approach, I feel I may be questioned re: the minimum altitudes on approach. I would have declared a missed approach had I not had the airport in complete sight and given permission to circle to land. I already had requested the missed approach procedure and stated intentions to land green bay if missed declared.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA PLT INITIATES CIRCLING APCH BEFORE RECEIVING CLRNC TO DO SO.

Narrative: FROM 4-8/90, I FLEW 25 HRS/NIGHT, 16 NIGHT TKOFS/LNDGS, 19.1 HRS IFR, 12 APCHS, ALL IN TYPE. ONLY THE NDB APCH WAS AVAILABLE AT ATW ON THIS DAY. SMOOTH, ACCURATE FLT UP TO APCH. GREEN BAY APCH DIRECTED DSNT TO 2600' EVEN THOUGH APCH PLATE CALLS FOR 2900' UNTIL ESTABLISHED. FREQ CHANGED FROM GREEN BAY APCH TO TWR (ATW). ONCE ESTABLISHED ON NDB 120 DEG INBND, I DSNDED TO 1400' PER THE APCH PLATE. I RPTED THE EDINA INTXN AND DSNDED TO 1320' AS PERMITTED. I THEN OVERCORRECTED FOR A SLIGHT COURSE CORRECTION AND HAD TO BRING MYSELF BACK ON COURSE. WITH THE CORRECTIONS, I WAS DIRECTLY OVER RWY 11 ON COURSE (120 DEGS) AND THE ENTIRE ARPT WAS VISIBLE. I BEGAN TO DSND BUT WAS TOO HIGH TO MAKE A PROPER LNDG AND REQUESTED THE TWR FOR 'PERMISSION TO CIRCLE TO LAND.' THE TWR ASKED ALT AND I RESPONDED '1300',' W/O TRYING TO DETERMINE THE EXACT ALT. I HAD GOOD GND CONTACT AND WAS GIVEN A RIGHT PATTERN TO LAND RWY 11. THUS, ALTHOUGH I FELT I DID A PRETTY GOOD APCH, I FEEL I MAY BE QUESTIONED RE: THE MINIMUM ALTS ON APCH. I WOULD HAVE DECLARED A MISSED APCH HAD I NOT HAD THE ARPT IN COMPLETE SIGHT AND GIVEN PERMISSION TO CIRCLE TO LAND. I ALREADY HAD REQUESTED THE MISSED APCH PROC AND STATED INTENTIONS TO LAND GREEN BAY IF MISSED DECLARED.

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.