Controller issued small aircraft X 360 at low altitude.

Attributes
ACN	204446
Time
Date	199203
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ict
State Reference	KS
Altitude	agl bound lower : 200 agl bound upper : 200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ict
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : go around
Route In Use	approach : straight in
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 4700 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	204446
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was conducting student training in small aircraft X. The student was a post-solo student pilot with about 20 hours total time. We were making left traffic in the touch and go pattern for runway 19L at ict. On two occasions we were given an instruction by ict tower to 'make a left 360.' in both cases we were on final approach within 1/3 mi of the runway threshold, below 200 ft AGL. In the first instance we were being overtaken by faster aircraft following us on final. In the second instance, tower had put an aircraft in position on 19L, but was unable to release it due to a microphone malfunction. In each case our response to 'make a left 360.' was to initiate a go around then advise tower we would enter a left downwind. During subsequent discussions with my student, it became apparent that a student, or low time pilot might take the tower instruction literally and attempt a medium bank 360 degree turn. In our case, this turn would have been initiated at 150 ft to 200 ft AGL, with full flaps and a low power setting. Such a turn would be an extremely hazardous maneuver for a student a low time pilot. Since this instruction was given twice under similar circumstances, I believe it represents a communication pattern. In my opinion, the proper instruction should have been 'small aircraft X go around,' followed by additional instructions as appropriate.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CTLR ISSUED SMA X 360 AT LOW ALT.

Narrative: I WAS CONDUCTING STUDENT TRAINING IN SMA X. THE STUDENT WAS A POST-SOLO STUDENT PLT WITH ABOUT 20 HRS TOTAL TIME. WE WERE MAKING L TFC IN THE TOUCH AND GO PATTERN FOR RWY 19L AT ICT. ON TWO OCCASIONS WE WERE GIVEN AN INSTRUCTION BY ICT TWR TO 'MAKE A L 360.' IN BOTH CASES WE WERE ON FINAL APCH WITHIN 1/3 MI OF THE RWY THRESHOLD, BELOW 200 FT AGL. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE WE WERE BEING OVERTAKEN BY FASTER ACFT FOLLOWING US ON FINAL. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE, TWR HAD PUT AN ACFT IN POS ON 19L, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE IT DUE TO A MICROPHONE MALFUNCTION. IN EACH CASE OUR RESPONSE TO 'MAKE A L 360.' WAS TO INITIATE A GAR THEN ADVISE TWR WE WOULD ENTER A L DOWNWIND. DURING SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSIONS WITH MY STUDENT, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT A STUDENT, OR LOW TIME PLT MIGHT TAKE THE TWR INSTRUCTION LITERALLY AND ATTEMPT A MEDIUM BANK 360 DEG TURN. IN OUR CASE, THIS TURN WOULD HAVE BEEN INITIATED AT 150 FT TO 200 FT AGL, WITH FULL FLAPS AND A LOW PWR SETTING. SUCH A TURN WOULD BE AN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS MANEUVER FOR A STUDENT A LOW TIME PLT. SINCE THIS INSTRUCTION WAS GIVEN TWICE UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES, I BELIEVE IT REPRESENTS A COM PATTERN. IN MY OPINION, THE PROPER INSTRUCTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN 'SMA X GAR,' FOLLOWED BY ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS AS APPROPRIATE.

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.