Narrative:

PA44 was executing an NDB runway 11R circle to runway 4 approach. BE90 was issued the exact same approach clearance 8.5 mi in trail when the PA44 passed the approach gate. The vrb tower was talking with both aircraft when I observed on radar the PA44 fly to the airport and then reverse course to a point 4 mi southwest of the field. As soon as the BE90 left my frequency his radar target deviated off the NDB runway 11R and tracked towards a 4 mi straight-in to runway 4. The BE90 was supposed to fly the NDB then circle to runway 4. The outcome of this has been charged as an operational error to the radar controller who provided non radar rules and separation. Every other controller that works this sector was trained to do the exact same rules and procedures. It is unknown at this time if the vrb tower controller turned either one of these aircraft. Are aircraft allowed to circle or start their circling maneuver 7 mi from the runway? I feel this was a pilot deviation, if the second aircraft had flown the approach, separation would never have been jeopardized.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZMA CTLR OBSERVES 2 NON RADAR ACFT DIVERT FROM VRB APCH AND CONFLICT. CTLR ALLEGES PROC 'OK' BECAUSE THAT WAS THE WAY HE WAS TAUGHT.

Narrative: PA44 WAS EXECUTING AN NDB RWY 11R CIRCLE TO RWY 4 APCH. BE90 WAS ISSUED THE EXACT SAME APCH CLRNC 8.5 MI IN TRAIL WHEN THE PA44 PASSED THE APCH GATE. THE VRB TWR WAS TALKING WITH BOTH ACFT WHEN I OBSERVED ON RADAR THE PA44 FLY TO THE ARPT AND THEN REVERSE COURSE TO A POINT 4 MI SW OF THE FIELD. AS SOON AS THE BE90 LEFT MY FREQ HIS RADAR TARGET DEVIATED OFF THE NDB RWY 11R AND TRACKED TOWARDS A 4 MI STRAIGHT-IN TO RWY 4. THE BE90 WAS SUPPOSED TO FLY THE NDB THEN CIRCLE TO RWY 4. THE OUTCOME OF THIS HAS BEEN CHARGED AS AN OPERROR TO THE RADAR CTLR WHO PROVIDED NON RADAR RULES AND SEPARATION. EVERY OTHER CTLR THAT WORKS THIS SECTOR WAS TRAINED TO DO THE EXACT SAME RULES AND PROCS. IT IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME IF THE VRB TWR CTLR TURNED EITHER ONE OF THESE ACFT. ARE ACFT ALLOWED TO CIRCLE OR START THEIR CIRCLING MANEUVER 7 MI FROM THE RWY? I FEEL THIS WAS A PLTDEV, IF THE SECOND ACFT HAD FLOWN THE APCH, SEPARATION WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN JEOPARDIZED.

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.