A fairly experienced PA31-350 pilot became confused by the instruction, 'square your turn,' by the t...

Attributes
ACN	493190
Time
Date	200011
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den.airport
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl single value : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d01.tracon tower : den.tower
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : vfr
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 1300 flight time type : 160
ASRS Report	493190
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

In switching between controllers, the clearance was confused. The approach controller instructed us to proceed direct to the numbers on runway 17R. The tower controller then told me to square the turn to final. I maintained the present heading on a slight dogleg to final. There was confusion as to when he wanted to square the turn to final, since I was about 5 NM out. The controller asked me to square the turn again, and it was done.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A FAIRLY EXPERIENCED PA31-350 PLT BECAME CONFUSED BY THE INSTRUCTION, 'SQUARE YOUR TURN,' BY THE TWR CTLR.

Narrative: IN SWITCHING BTWN CTLRS, THE CLRNC WAS CONFUSED. THE APCH CTLR INSTRUCTED US TO PROCEED DIRECT TO THE NUMBERS ON RWY 17R. THE TWR CTLR THEN TOLD ME TO SQUARE THE TURN TO FINAL. I MAINTAINED THE PRESENT HDG ON A SLIGHT DOGLEG TO FINAL. THERE WAS CONFUSION AS TO WHEN HE WANTED TO SQUARE THE TURN TO FINAL, SINCE I WAS ABOUT 5 NM OUT. THE CTLR ASKED ME TO SQUARE THE TURN AGAIN, AND IT WAS DONE.

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.

A fairly experienced PA31-350 pilot became confused by the instruction, 'square your turn,' by the tower controller.