C421. Controller did not appear to know he had not cleared the pilot into a holding pattern. Holding clearance was never issued.

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Attributes
ACN	468800
Time
Date	200004
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gls.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 2100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : i90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Golden Eagle 421
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 1200 flight time type : 850
ASRS Report	468800
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

After radar vectors around hou class B airspace, I was cleared to scholes VOR direct. While on this course, hou approach control advised that I might have to hold and if so, I should hold northwest of swane, right turns, and efc at AB20. I do not believe that I was actually told to hold and in fact heard the controller confirm that the aircraft ahead of me had cleared the runway at gls. I am VMC at 2100 ft MSL about 2-3 mi northwest of gls when the controller asked me if I was holding. I advised 'no' and that I had gls in sight and would cancel IFR. He handed me off and a normal approach and landing were made. He did not seem perturbed, but I don't believe he would have asked if I was holding if he did not expect that I should have been. That concerns me, as I had even asked a second time to repeat the hold instructions and was advised that I was 'getting a heads up on a hold should it be necessary' and did not receive any further instructions. I believe that this is a simple misunderstanding and the way I will avoid (try) in the future is to clarify (which I did in this case and am still not sure that I violated a clearance).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C421. CTLR DID NOT APPEAR TO KNOW HE HAD NOT CLRED THE PLT INTO A HOLDING PATTERN. HOLDING CLRNC WAS NEVER ISSUED.

Narrative: AFTER RADAR VECTORS AROUND HOU CLASS B AIRSPACE, I WAS CLRED TO SCHOLES VOR DIRECT. WHILE ON THIS COURSE, HOU APCH CTL ADVISED THAT I MIGHT HAVE TO HOLD AND IF SO, I SHOULD HOLD NW OF SWANE, R TURNS, AND EFC AT AB20. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT I WAS ACTUALLY TOLD TO HOLD AND IN FACT HEARD THE CTLR CONFIRM THAT THE ACFT AHEAD OF ME HAD CLRED THE RWY AT GLS. I AM VMC AT 2100 FT MSL ABOUT 2-3 MI NW OF GLS WHEN THE CTLR ASKED ME IF I WAS HOLDING. I ADVISED 'NO' AND THAT I HAD GLS IN SIGHT AND WOULD CANCEL IFR. HE HANDED ME OFF AND A NORMAL APCH AND LNDG WERE MADE. HE DID NOT SEEM PERTURBED, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE HE WOULD HAVE ASKED IF I WAS HOLDING IF HE DID NOT EXPECT THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THAT CONCERNS ME, AS I HAD EVEN ASKED A SECOND TIME TO REPEAT THE HOLD INSTRUCTIONS AND WAS ADVISED THAT I WAS 'GETTING A HEADS UP ON A HOLD SHOULD IT BE NECESSARY' AND DID NOT RECEIVE ANY FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SIMPLE MISUNDERSTANDING AND THE WAY I WILL AVOID (TRY) IN THE FUTURE IS TO CLARIFY (WHICH I DID IN THIS CASE AND AM STILL NOT SURE THAT I VIOLATED A CLRNC).

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.