Narrative:

I was PIC on an IFR flight plan from mem to mkl on dec/xa/98 in a C172. Flight was VMC at all times. Approximately 12 NM from mkl, I understood ZME to say, 'contact mckeller tower.' I responded, 'cessna going to tower, good day.' after no response from center, I swapped frequency to mkl tower and was told to call 5 mi left base runway 2. Tower then asked me if I was IFR. I responded, that I was. He then instructed me to recontact ZME. Upon contacting center, she asked me if I had the airport in sight. I responded I did and she cleared me for the visual for runway 2 and contact the tower. This all occurred within approximately 3 mins with no altitude or heading change. No conflict or problem was indicated by center or tower. After landing, tower instructed me to contact the center on the phone.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 PLT ON AN IFR TO MKL, TN, LEAVES CTR FREQ PREMATURELY WHEN HE THOUGHT HE HAD BEEN GIVEN A HDOF TO THE TWR.

Narrative: I WAS PIC ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM MEM TO MKL ON DEC/XA/98 IN A C172. FLT WAS VMC AT ALL TIMES. APPROX 12 NM FROM MKL, I UNDERSTOOD ZME TO SAY, 'CONTACT MCKELLER TWR.' I RESPONDED, 'CESSNA GOING TO TWR, GOOD DAY.' AFTER NO RESPONSE FROM CTR, I SWAPPED FREQ TO MKL TWR AND WAS TOLD TO CALL 5 MI L BASE RWY 2. TWR THEN ASKED ME IF I WAS IFR. I RESPONDED, THAT I WAS. HE THEN INSTRUCTED ME TO RECONTACT ZME. UPON CONTACTING CTR, SHE ASKED ME IF I HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT. I RESPONDED I DID AND SHE CLRED ME FOR THE VISUAL FOR RWY 2 AND CONTACT THE TWR. THIS ALL OCCURRED WITHIN APPROX 3 MINS WITH NO ALT OR HDG CHANGE. NO CONFLICT OR PROB WAS INDICATED BY CTR OR TWR. AFTER LNDG, TWR INSTRUCTED ME TO CONTACT THE CTR ON THE PHONE.

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.