Pilot of a cpr aircraft did not understand approach clearance and was given vectors to final.

Attributes
ACN	310140
Time
Date	199507
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : san
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 4100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : san
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 6100 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	310140
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While being radar vectored by san approach I was told by approach control to fly present heading, join the STAR (northwest of san) and fly the STAR to san. Due to the airplane position relative to the design of the STAR, the clearance didn't make sense to me and I advised the controller I didn't understand what he wanted. Controller asked if I had the STAR onboard. I told him yes, but I don't understand what you want me to do with it. Controller advised he would turn me himself. The controller seemed upset.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF A CPR ACFT DID NOT UNDERSTAND APCH CLRNC AND WAS GIVEN VECTORS TO FINAL.

Narrative: WHILE BEING RADAR VECTORED BY SAN APCH I WAS TOLD BY APCH CTL TO FLY PRESENT HDG, JOIN THE STAR (NW OF SAN) AND FLY THE STAR TO SAN. DUE TO THE AIRPLANE POS RELATIVE TO THE DESIGN OF THE STAR, THE CLRNC DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME AND I ADVISED THE CTLR I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WANTED. CTLR ASKED IF I HAD THE STAR ONBOARD. I TOLD HIM YES, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO WITH IT. CTLR ADVISED HE WOULD TURN ME HIMSELF. THE CTLR SEEMED UPSET.

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.