Apparent landing without clearance at chs.

Attributes
ACN	163539
Time
Date	199011
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : chs
State Reference	SC
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 1600 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	163539
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	incursion : landing without clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After being cleared for a visibility approach to runway 33 by chs approach, I did not receive a handoff to the tower frequency. Upon realizing that I was rapidly approaching the time when I required a clearance to land from the tower, I began trying for radio space to request a frequency change. Radio frequency congestion was such that I was unable to do so. I switched to the tower frequency. Upon selecting the tower I heard, '...cleared to land.' assuming that they had meant, 'call sign, runway 33, cleared to land,' and that I had simply missed the first part of the xmissions, I went on the assumption that he had cleared me to land. I did not acknowledge the transmission to confirm my clearance and proceeded to land. Upon selecting ground control, I did not receive any indication of a problem, although upon further consideration I am not so sure the clearance which I heard was for me. The contributing factors to this situation were not receiving a handoff to the tower, radio frequency congestion, and dual transmission blockage, and my failure to confirm my clearance, simply by using my call sign.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APPARENT LNDG WITHOUT CLRNC AT CHS.

Narrative: AFTER BEING CLRED FOR A VIS APCH TO RWY 33 BY CHS APCH, I DID NOT RECEIVE A HDOF TO THE TWR FREQ. UPON REALIZING THAT I WAS RAPIDLY APCHING THE TIME WHEN I REQUIRED A CLRNC TO LAND FROM THE TWR, I BEGAN TRYING FOR RADIO SPACE TO REQUEST A FREQ CHANGE. RADIO FREQ CONGESTION WAS SUCH THAT I WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. I SWITCHED TO THE TWR FREQ. UPON SELECTING THE TWR I HEARD, '...CLRED TO LAND.' ASSUMING THAT THEY HAD MEANT, 'CALL SIGN, RWY 33, CLRED TO LAND,' AND THAT I HAD SIMPLY MISSED THE FIRST PART OF THE XMISSIONS, I WENT ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT HE HAD CLRED ME TO LAND. I DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE XMISSION TO CONFIRM MY CLRNC AND PROCEEDED TO LAND. UPON SELECTING GND CTL, I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INDICATION OF A PROB, ALTHOUGH UPON FURTHER CONSIDERATION I AM NOT SO SURE THE CLRNC WHICH I HEARD WAS FOR ME. THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THIS SITUATION WERE NOT RECEIVING A HDOF TO THE TWR, RADIO FREQ CONGESTION, AND DUAL XMISSION BLOCKAGE, AND MY FAILURE TO CONFIRM MY CLRNC, SIMPLY BY USING MY CALL SIGN.

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.