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Inadvertently the reporter changed from approach control to tower. At the same time as the reporter realized the error tower told him to switch back to approach.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 323420 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199512 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : azo |
| State Reference | MI |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : azo |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : cfi pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 800 |
| ASRS Report | 323420 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance other |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
During descent into TRSA, I was talking to approach control at the end of a perfect flight to visit relatives. Approach told me to advise airport in sight for the visual. I loaded the tower frequency into the inactive #2 after communications with approach, during which I was cleared down to 3000 ft. I must have accidently (habitually) turned to the new (tower) frequency immediately after entering it. I reported the airport in sight about 10 mi out and was cleared to land. About as soon as my mind questioned why I wasn't told, 'cleared for the visual,' I was asked to report back to approach. I never left 3000 ft to commence the visual until back with approach the second time, but must have been off frequency for a few mins. I apologized and there appeared to have been no problems in those few mins, if they even noticed at all until I check in with tower prior to being reclred by approach. Fatigue after a long day, but mostly habit of entering frequency on inactive and then turning to it, was to blame. Was also complacent as radios were very quiet that night.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: INADVERTENTLY THE RPTR CHANGED FROM APCH CTL TO TWR. AT THE SAME TIME AS THE RPTR REALIZED THE ERROR TWR TOLD HIM TO SWITCH BACK TO APCH.
Narrative: DURING DSCNT INTO TRSA, I WAS TALKING TO APCH CTL AT THE END OF A PERFECT FLT TO VISIT RELATIVES. APCH TOLD ME TO ADVISE ARPT IN SIGHT FOR THE VISUAL. I LOADED THE TWR FREQ INTO THE INACTIVE #2 AFTER COMS WITH APCH, DURING WHICH I WAS CLRED DOWN TO 3000 FT. I MUST HAVE ACCIDENTLY (HABITUALLY) TURNED TO THE NEW (TWR) FREQ IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENTERING IT. I RPTED THE ARPT IN SIGHT ABOUT 10 MI OUT AND WAS CLRED TO LAND. ABOUT AS SOON AS MY MIND QUESTIONED WHY I WASN'T TOLD, 'CLRED FOR THE VISUAL,' I WAS ASKED TO RPT BACK TO APCH. I NEVER LEFT 3000 FT TO COMMENCE THE VISUAL UNTIL BACK WITH APCH THE SECOND TIME, BUT MUST HAVE BEEN OFF FREQ FOR A FEW MINS. I APOLOGIZED AND THERE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN NO PROBS IN THOSE FEW MINS, IF THEY EVEN NOTICED AT ALL UNTIL I CHK IN WITH TWR PRIOR TO BEING RECLRED BY APCH. FATIGUE AFTER A LONG DAY, BUT MOSTLY HABIT OF ENTERING FREQ ON INACTIVE AND THEN TURNING TO IT, WAS TO BLAME. WAS ALSO COMPLACENT AS RADIOS WERE VERY QUIET THAT NIGHT.
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.