Narrative:

Had just departed runway 15 at iws, with an IFR clearance to turn to 260 degrees and climb to 2000 ft. At 1500 ft, heading 260 degrees, I contacted houston approach on 123.8, and the controller issued a left turn to 360 degrees and climb to 4000 ft. I replied 'was that a left turn to 360 degrees?' and he confirmed 'that's correct, left turn 360 degrees and climb to 4000 ft.' I proceeded to turn and climb, and when I was at about 3300 ft and heading 060 degrees, he barked, 'I told you to turn to 180 degrees and maintain 2000 ft.' since I had been cleared on the scholes departure, that would have been the correct turn. That's why I asked for confirmation of the initial instruction.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PIPER PA32 PLT RPTS THAT HE RECEIVED AN ERRONEOUS CLRNC AND AFTER THE CTLR REPEATED FOR CONFIRMATION STARTED HIS COMPLIANCE MANEUVER ONLY TO HAVE THE CTLR DENY THE CLRNC WAS GIVEN.

Narrative: HAD JUST DEPARTED RWY 15 AT IWS, WITH AN IFR CLRNC TO TURN TO 260 DEGS AND CLB TO 2000 FT. AT 1500 FT, HDG 260 DEGS, I CONTACTED HOUSTON APCH ON 123.8, AND THE CTLR ISSUED A L TURN TO 360 DEGS AND CLB TO 4000 FT. I REPLIED 'WAS THAT A L TURN TO 360 DEGS?' AND HE CONFIRMED 'THAT'S CORRECT, L TURN 360 DEGS AND CLB TO 4000 FT.' I PROCEEDED TO TURN AND CLB, AND WHEN I WAS AT ABOUT 3300 FT AND HDG 060 DEGS, HE BARKED, 'I TOLD YOU TO TURN TO 180 DEGS AND MAINTAIN 2000 FT.' SINCE I HAD BEEN CLRED ON THE SCHOLES DEP, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE CORRECT TURN. THAT'S WHY I ASKED FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE INITIAL INSTRUCTION.

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.