Small aircraft pilot misunderstands a 'low approach' clearance and makes a full stop landing.

Attributes
ACN	319335
Time
Date	199510
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fnt
State Reference	MI
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 166 flight time type : 8
ASRS Report	319335
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Being in the traffic pattern for touch and goes, I was cleared for a low approach. At this time I landed the aircraft. I didn't land in blatant disregard to the instructions. I landed because I didn't understand the definition of the term, 'low approach.' plain and simple ignorance on my part. I took the instructions literally, and came in as low as I thought practical and still be safe. Having landed the tower instructed me to taxi clear of the runway, that I had been cleared for a low approach only! Naturally I complied. At which time I contacted ground control and returned to the ramp (FBO). Having secured the aircraft, I contacted a CFI for the proper procedure in regard to a low approach. He enlightened me. At this time I contacted the control tower, and in fact talked to the controller that I had disregarded, and explained the situation. He seemed to accept my apology very graciously and stated that he was quite busy at the time and had an aircraft, faster than me directly behind me. I assured him I understood and didn't take the situation lightly, that I had landed strictly because of ignorance, not because I just chose to disregard him. Since, I have referred to far-aim 95 page 494 paragraph 4-61, 'low approach.' I assure you I have thoroughly reviewed and understand this paragraph.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT MISUNDERSTANDS A 'LOW APCH' CLRNC AND MAKES A FULL STOP LNDG.

Narrative: BEING IN THE TFC PATTERN FOR TOUCH AND GOES, I WAS CLRED FOR A LOW APCH. AT THIS TIME I LANDED THE ACFT. I DIDN'T LAND IN BLATANT DISREGARD TO THE INSTRUCTIONS. I LANDED BECAUSE I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE DEFINITION OF THE TERM, 'LOW APCH.' PLAIN AND SIMPLE IGNORANCE ON MY PART. I TOOK THE INSTRUCTIONS LITERALLY, AND CAME IN AS LOW AS I THOUGHT PRACTICAL AND STILL BE SAFE. HAVING LANDED THE TWR INSTRUCTED ME TO TAXI CLR OF THE RWY, THAT I HAD BEEN CLRED FOR A LOW APCH ONLY! NATURALLY I COMPLIED. AT WHICH TIME I CONTACTED GND CTL AND RETURNED TO THE RAMP (FBO). HAVING SECURED THE ACFT, I CONTACTED A CFI FOR THE PROPER PROC IN REGARD TO A LOW APCH. HE ENLIGHTENED ME. AT THIS TIME I CONTACTED THE CTL TWR, AND IN FACT TALKED TO THE CTLR THAT I HAD DISREGARDED, AND EXPLAINED THE SIT. HE SEEMED TO ACCEPT MY APOLOGY VERY GRACIOUSLY AND STATED THAT HE WAS QUITE BUSY AT THE TIME AND HAD AN ACFT, FASTER THAN ME DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. I ASSURED HIM I UNDERSTOOD AND DIDN'T TAKE THE SIT LIGHTLY, THAT I HAD LANDED STRICTLY BECAUSE OF IGNORANCE, NOT BECAUSE I JUST CHOSE TO DISREGARD HIM. SINCE, I HAVE REFERRED TO FAR-AIM 95 PAGE 494 PARAGRAPH 4-61, 'LOW APCH.' I ASSURE YOU I HAVE THOROUGHLY REVIEWED AND UNDERSTAND THIS PARAGRAPH.

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.