C185 pilot is sequenced #2 to follow a jet reported about 2 mi behind his location.

Attributes
ACN	519006
Time
Date	200107
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ege.airport
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl single value : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ege.tower
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Skywagon 185
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	arrival : vfr
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : ege.tower
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : vfr
Person 1
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 1700 flight time type : 1700
ASRS Report	519006
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

I contacted eagle tower (non radar) that I was 20 mi out to the southeast and inbound eagle. Immediately after my transmission, 'aircraft Y' called 20 mi out. The tower had told me to 'report 5 mi out.' several mins went by and the tower called to ask my location. I reported 8.5 mi out, the jet reported 10 mi final. The controller cleared the jet to land with me as #2. No base or final direction were given. Another min or 2 passed with some other radio traffic and I called as soon as frequency was available at '4.8 mi final' and asked where the jet was, as I did not have him in sight and had expected him to already be over the threshold. The tower then aid they had 'not cleared me for final' and to break off and circle. After completing 2 circles, I spotted the jet on about a 3 mi final. The tower then cleared me to land behind the jet.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C185 PLT IS SEQUENCED #2 TO FOLLOW A JET RPTED ABOUT 2 MI BEHIND HIS LOCATION.

Narrative: I CONTACTED EAGLE TWR (NON RADAR) THAT I WAS 20 MI OUT TO THE SE AND INBOUND EAGLE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER MY XMISSION, 'ACFT Y' CALLED 20 MI OUT. THE TWR HAD TOLD ME TO 'RPT 5 MI OUT.' SEVERAL MINS WENT BY AND THE TWR CALLED TO ASK MY LOCATION. I RPTED 8.5 MI OUT, THE JET RPTED 10 MI FINAL. THE CTLR CLRED THE JET TO LAND WITH ME AS #2. NO BASE OR FINAL DIRECTION WERE GIVEN. ANOTHER MIN OR 2 PASSED WITH SOME OTHER RADIO TFC AND I CALLED AS SOON AS FREQ WAS AVAILABLE AT '4.8 MI FINAL' AND ASKED WHERE THE JET WAS, AS I DID NOT HAVE HIM IN SIGHT AND HAD EXPECTED HIM TO ALREADY BE OVER THE THRESHOLD. THE TWR THEN AID THEY HAD 'NOT CLRED ME FOR FINAL' AND TO BREAK OFF AND CIRCLE. AFTER COMPLETING 2 CIRCLES, I SPOTTED THE JET ON ABOUT A 3 MI FINAL. THE TWR THEN CLRED ME TO LAND BEHIND THE JET.

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.