Narrative:

Called in to napa tower approximately 7 mi southwest with ATIS information and informed tower landing napa. Tower called back with 'give me a call in 2 mins.' I slowed aircraft to minimum speed and continued inbound. Called tower 2-3 mins later and reported southwest of tower -- about 1 1/2 - 2 mi and tower responded 'you were not cleared into this airspace.' my reply, 'negative, you said only to call back in 2 mins.' his reply, 'do a 360 degree turn to the right and I'll work you in.' this was accomplished and we were second to land on runway 24. Nothing more was said about the incursion. This occurrence could have been avoided had the tower controller said do a 360 degree turn and call back after my initial call in giving position and receipt of ATIS.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SEL SMA FAILED TO OBTAIN TWR CLRNC WHEN ENTERING THE CLASS D AIRSPACE DUE TO A MISUNDERSTANDING ON INITIAL CONTACT PRIOR TO ENTERING.

Narrative: CALLED IN TO NAPA TWR APPROX 7 MI SW WITH ATIS INFO AND INFORMED TWR LNDG NAPA. TWR CALLED BACK WITH 'GIVE ME A CALL IN 2 MINS.' I SLOWED ACFT TO MINIMUM SPD AND CONTINUED INBOUND. CALLED TWR 2-3 MINS LATER AND RPTED SW OF TWR -- ABOUT 1 1/2 - 2 MI AND TWR RESPONDED 'YOU WERE NOT CLRED INTO THIS AIRSPACE.' MY REPLY, 'NEGATIVE, YOU SAID ONLY TO CALL BACK IN 2 MINS.' HIS REPLY, 'DO A 360 DEG TURN TO THE R AND I'LL WORK YOU IN.' THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND WE WERE SECOND TO LAND ON RWY 24. NOTHING MORE WAS SAID ABOUT THE INCURSION. THIS OCCURRENCE COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD THE TWR CTLR SAID DO A 360 DEG TURN AND CALL BACK AFTER MY INITIAL CALL IN GIVING POS AND RECEIPT OF ATIS.

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.