Cpr small transport complains about controller technique at stp.

Attributes
ACN	163908
Time
Date	199011
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : stp
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : stp
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent other other
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 11500 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	163908
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure other

Narrative:

After approach control handoff to stp tower, tower controller did not take positive control of aircraft. Pilot found himself turning short final when he was told to turn right, a full 180 degrees turn (at low altitude). After making turn northbound, controller then told pilot to turn back to runway heading. After that turn pilot was faced with a single engine small aircraft in front, 1/2 mi. Controller finally told small aircraft to go around and we landed. Mistake by ATC came by not knowing where we were until turning final.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR SMT COMPLAINS ABOUT CTLR TECHNIQUE AT STP.

Narrative: AFTER APCH CTL HDOF TO STP TWR, TWR CTLR DID NOT TAKE POSITIVE CTL OF ACFT. PLT FOUND HIMSELF TURNING SHORT FINAL WHEN HE WAS TOLD TO TURN RIGHT, A FULL 180 DEGS TURN (AT LOW ALT). AFTER MAKING TURN NBND, CTLR THEN TOLD PLT TO TURN BACK TO RWY HDG. AFTER THAT TURN PLT WAS FACED WITH A SINGLE ENG SMA IN FRONT, 1/2 MI. CTLR FINALLY TOLD SMA TO GO AROUND AND WE LANDED. MISTAKE BY ATC CAME BY NOT KNOWING WHERE WE WERE UNTIL TURNING FINAL.

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.