Narrative:

I was on a solo cross country training flight. I contacted the tower on the appropriate frequency and gave my initial position report. The controller responded to my call and stated that he was unsure of my position. I attempted to give a more descriptive position report to the controller. His response sounded very impatient when he instructed me to fly a specific heading in order to judge where I was and how he was going to cycle me into the traffic. At this point the controller asked me what my intentions were. I told him that I was requesting a touch-and-go and then would be departing the airport. At this point the controller was coarse and frustrated. He sternly told me to 'orbit over the tower and await further instructions.' I complied with his instructions and orbited for several mins over the tower. I reported that I was currently 'orbiting' the tower. The controller claimed that I was not in sight. He then came back on the radio and instructed me to make right traffic for the active runway and that I was 'cleared' for the runway. I made my approach and descended to the runway upon landing. I initiated my touch-and-go. At this point the controller told me that I was only cleared to land. His last instructions didn't contain the words 'cleared to land,' all he said was 'cleared runway 7R.' I responded by telling him that I specifically requested a touch-and-go. The controller told me that I had committed a violation. I departed the airport after the controller told me to contact the tower when I got home.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN INEXPERIENCED C172 PLT MADE A TOUCH-AND-GO LNDG WHEN CLRED TO LAND AT PHX.

Narrative: I WAS ON A SOLO XCOUNTRY TRAINING FLT. I CONTACTED THE TWR ON THE APPROPRIATE FREQ AND GAVE MY INITIAL POS RPT. THE CTLR RESPONDED TO MY CALL AND STATED THAT HE WAS UNSURE OF MY POS. I ATTEMPTED TO GIVE A MORE DESCRIPTIVE POS RPT TO THE CTLR. HIS RESPONSE SOUNDED VERY IMPATIENT WHEN HE INSTRUCTED ME TO FLY A SPECIFIC HDG IN ORDER TO JUDGE WHERE I WAS AND HOW HE WAS GOING TO CYCLE ME INTO THE TFC. AT THIS POINT THE CTLR ASKED ME WHAT MY INTENTIONS WERE. I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS REQUESTING A TOUCH-AND-GO AND THEN WOULD BE DEPARTING THE ARPT. AT THIS POINT THE CTLR WAS COARSE AND FRUSTRATED. HE STERNLY TOLD ME TO 'ORBIT OVER THE TWR AND AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.' I COMPLIED WITH HIS INSTRUCTIONS AND ORBITED FOR SEVERAL MINS OVER THE TWR. I RPTED THAT I WAS CURRENTLY 'ORBITING' THE TWR. THE CTLR CLAIMED THAT I WAS NOT IN SIGHT. HE THEN CAME BACK ON THE RADIO AND INSTRUCTED ME TO MAKE R TFC FOR THE ACTIVE RWY AND THAT I WAS 'CLRED' FOR THE RWY. I MADE MY APCH AND DSNDED TO THE RWY UPON LNDG. I INITIATED MY TOUCH-AND-GO. AT THIS POINT THE CTLR TOLD ME THAT I WAS ONLY CLRED TO LAND. HIS LAST INSTRUCTIONS DIDN'T CONTAIN THE WORDS 'CLRED TO LAND,' ALL HE SAID WAS 'CLRED RWY 7R.' I RESPONDED BY TELLING HIM THAT I SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED A TOUCH-AND-GO. THE CTLR TOLD ME THAT I HAD COMMITTED A VIOLATION. I DEPARTED THE ARPT AFTER THE CTLR TOLD ME TO CONTACT THE TWR WHEN I GOT HOME.

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.