C182 pilot had controller issue an improper clearance.

Attributes
ACN	437483
Time
Date	199905
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : harwl
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lan.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 28 flight time total : 1900 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	437483
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

We were on an IFR flight plan from ptk to jxn, in good VMC. Our clearance was 'direct harwl intersection direct jxn.' over harwl, lan approach said 'cleared for the visual approach, contact jackson tower.' I read back the clearance and contacted jxn tower. It then occurred to me that lan had not asked me if I had the airport in sight, nor had they called traffic to follow. I informed jxn tower of this. They gave me a hard altitude and vector. I then reported the airport in sight, and was cleared for the visual approach. I landed without incident. While safety was not compromised as I was in good VMC, the procedure error by ATC could have had adverse effects had I been in IMC. I should have refused the improper clearance, but the controller's error did not occur to me for several seconds.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C182 PLT HAD CTLR ISSUE AN IMPROPER CLRNC.

Narrative: WE WERE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM PTK TO JXN, IN GOOD VMC. OUR CLRNC WAS 'DIRECT HARWL INTXN DIRECT JXN.' OVER HARWL, LAN APCH SAID 'CLRED FOR THE VISUAL APCH, CONTACT JACKSON TWR.' I READ BACK THE CLRNC AND CONTACTED JXN TWR. IT THEN OCCURRED TO ME THAT LAN HAD NOT ASKED ME IF I HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT, NOR HAD THEY CALLED TFC TO FOLLOW. I INFORMED JXN TWR OF THIS. THEY GAVE ME A HARD ALT AND VECTOR. I THEN RPTED THE ARPT IN SIGHT, AND WAS CLRED FOR THE VISUAL APCH. I LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. WHILE SAFETY WAS NOT COMPROMISED AS I WAS IN GOOD VMC, THE PROC ERROR BY ATC COULD HAVE HAD ADVERSE EFFECTS HAD I BEEN IN IMC. I SHOULD HAVE REFUSED THE IMPROPER CLRNC, BUT THE CTLR'S ERROR DID NOT OCCUR TO ME FOR SEVERAL SECONDS.

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.