The reporter misinterpreted 'taxi back' to mean 'taxi back to the ramp.'

Attributes
ACN	334877
Time
Date	199604
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : spg
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 91 flight time type : 25
ASRS Report	334877
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After several 'for the option' lndgs, I requested a full stop. During the rollout I received a 'turn right at next intersection and taxi back' from the tower. I was surprised that I was not switched over to ground as the tower and pattern was quite busy. (It is common practice at the field to remain on the tower frequency when taxiing back.) in hindsight I could have broken the 'error' chain at this point. I answered the tower with 'taxi back,' trying to keep the frequency clear. Just before I reached the fuel pump the tower asked if I had taxied to the ramp. I replied that I was about to shut down. The tower said 'ok, just let me know next time.' I replied that he had authorized me to taxi back to the ramp. The tower then contacted another aircraft and after waiting a couple of mins, with a clear frequency, I shut down. The pattern was rather busy that day and the controller had his hands full. I was trying to help by keeping my requests and responses short. However, in the future I will be very specific, ie, responding 'taxi back to XXX ramp.' I use this procedure in takeoff requests and clearance. (Responding with runway number even if the controller did not specify).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE RPTR MISINTERPRETED 'TAXI BACK' TO MEAN 'TAXI BACK TO THE RAMP.'

Narrative: AFTER SEVERAL 'FOR THE OPTION' LNDGS, I REQUESTED A FULL STOP. DURING THE ROLLOUT I RECEIVED A 'TURN R AT NEXT INTXN AND TAXI BACK' FROM THE TWR. I WAS SURPRISED THAT I WAS NOT SWITCHED OVER TO GND AS THE TWR AND PATTERN WAS QUITE BUSY. (IT IS COMMON PRACTICE AT THE FIELD TO REMAIN ON THE TWR FREQ WHEN TAXIING BACK.) IN HINDSIGHT I COULD HAVE BROKEN THE 'ERROR' CHAIN AT THIS POINT. I ANSWERED THE TWR WITH 'TAXI BACK,' TRYING TO KEEP THE FREQ CLR. JUST BEFORE I REACHED THE FUEL PUMP THE TWR ASKED IF I HAD TAXIED TO THE RAMP. I REPLIED THAT I WAS ABOUT TO SHUT DOWN. THE TWR SAID 'OK, JUST LET ME KNOW NEXT TIME.' I REPLIED THAT HE HAD AUTHORIZED ME TO TAXI BACK TO THE RAMP. THE TWR THEN CONTACTED ANOTHER ACFT AND AFTER WAITING A COUPLE OF MINS, WITH A CLR FREQ, I SHUT DOWN. THE PATTERN WAS RATHER BUSY THAT DAY AND THE CTLR HAD HIS HANDS FULL. I WAS TRYING TO HELP BY KEEPING MY REQUESTS AND RESPONSES SHORT. HOWEVER, IN THE FUTURE I WILL BE VERY SPECIFIC, IE, RESPONDING 'TAXI BACK TO XXX RAMP.' I USE THIS PROC IN TKOF REQUESTS AND CLRNC. (RESPONDING WITH RWY NUMBER EVEN IF THE CTLR DID NOT SPECIFY).

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.