Narrative:

This problem arose when I was being handed off from austin approach control (124.9) to austin tower on 121.0. I understood the approach controller to say, 'contact the tower on 120.0.' I read back '120.0' to the controller, but received no correction. I entered the frequency 120.0 and attempted to contact the tower. When I received no reply from the tower, I returned to approach control on 124.9 and requested clarification of the tower frequency. They appeared to misunderstand my request for the tower frequency, thinking I had mistaken them for the tower. I was told 'you need to learn how to use the radio.' the controller then gave me the tower frequency of 121.0. I contacted the tower, and immediately was given a new heading for a go around. I landed, as cleared, on runway 13L, and proceeded to the ramp FBO, where after a few mins, another pilot approached me, who had followed me in on runway 13L. He informed me the tower was really upset for interrupting the traffic flow, and he suggested I file this report. He also confirmed the approach controller had not corrected my readback of the tower frequency. I am a student pilot and this was my third solo x-country and my first time to solo into arsa at an airport unfamiliar to me. Certainly more experience on my part might have helped in this situation, since most of my training has been at west houston airport in a non-controled environment. Controllers can assist pilots by carefully listening to information and clearance readbacks and making appropriate corrections. It is my understanding that it is controller or pilot responsibility to correct any erroneous readback.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA ON X-COUNTRY TRAINING FLT APCHING AUS REPEATED BACK WRONG TWR FREQ. WHEN FINALLY USING CORRECT FREQ AND TWR REPLIED, WAS INSTRUCTED TO GAR.

Narrative: THIS PROBLEM AROSE WHEN I WAS BEING HANDED OFF FROM AUSTIN APCH CTL (124.9) TO AUSTIN TWR ON 121.0. I UNDERSTOOD THE APCH CTLR TO SAY, 'CONTACT THE TWR ON 120.0.' I READ BACK '120.0' TO THE CTLR, BUT RECEIVED NO CORRECTION. I ENTERED THE FREQ 120.0 AND ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE TWR. WHEN I RECEIVED NO REPLY FROM THE TWR, I RETURNED TO APCH CTL ON 124.9 AND REQUESTED CLARIFICATION OF THE TWR FREQ. THEY APPEARED TO MISUNDERSTAND MY REQUEST FOR THE TWR FREQ, THINKING I HAD MISTAKEN THEM FOR THE TWR. I WAS TOLD 'YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO USE THE RADIO.' THE CTLR THEN GAVE ME THE TWR FREQ OF 121.0. I CONTACTED THE TWR, AND IMMEDIATELY WAS GIVEN A NEW HDG FOR A GAR. I LANDED, AS CLRED, ON RWY 13L, AND PROCEEDED TO THE RAMP FBO, WHERE AFTER A FEW MINS, ANOTHER PLT APCHED ME, WHO HAD FOLLOWED ME IN ON RWY 13L. HE INFORMED ME THE TWR WAS REALLY UPSET FOR INTERRUPTING THE TFC FLOW, AND HE SUGGESTED I FILE THIS RPT. HE ALSO CONFIRMED THE APCH CTLR HAD NOT CORRECTED MY READBACK OF THE TWR FREQ. I AM A STUDENT PLT AND THIS WAS MY THIRD SOLO X-COUNTRY AND MY FIRST TIME TO SOLO INTO ARSA AT AN ARPT UNFAMILIAR TO ME. CERTAINLY MORE EXPERIENCE ON MY PART MIGHT HAVE HELPED IN THIS SITUATION, SINCE MOST OF MY TRAINING HAS BEEN AT W HOUSTON ARPT IN A NON-CTLED ENVIRONMENT. CTLRS CAN ASSIST PLTS BY CAREFULLY LISTENING TO INFO AND CLRNC READBACKS AND MAKING APPROPRIATE CORRECTIONS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS CTLR OR PLT RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT ANY ERRONEOUS READBACK.

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.