Narrative:

I was on extended right downwind for runway 23 at laf. I asked tower to call my base since I could not find the traffic I was to follow on extended left downwind. Tower then told me to circle to the west and enter right downwind for runway 23. Due to the large volume of traffic around me, that I was worried about staying away from, and not fully understanding what tower wanted me to do, I assumed that I was to circle on that side of the airport and then go for the right downwind entry. I then assumed I was to the west when I really moved to about 5 mi ene to circle. I then started to go north, so I could go outside the pattern to re-enter at the right downwind and asked tower for instructions again. At this time they wanted me to enter a left downwind so I turned and headed south, moving closer to the airport and avoiding traffic. All this time, I was mistakenly reporting to the west when I was really to the east. Tower again changed instructions and told me to enter right downwind for runway 23. I then turned to the north and was now about 3.5 NM ene when tower asked who was maneuvering to the northeast. At this time, I realized my mistake in reporting and immediately told them. They thought I was remaining outside their airspace since people were having a hard time getting on the frequency. I was then told to follow traffic which I had reported in sight and safely landed with no further confusion.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PIPER PLT LOSES POSITIONAL AWARENESS WHICH CONFUSES TWR UNTIL THE TWR REALIZED WHERE THE ACFT WAS.

Narrative: I WAS ON EXTENDED R DOWNWIND FOR RWY 23 AT LAF. I ASKED TWR TO CALL MY BASE SINCE I COULD NOT FIND THE TFC I WAS TO FOLLOW ON EXTENDED L DOWNWIND. TWR THEN TOLD ME TO CIRCLE TO THE W AND ENTER R DOWNWIND FOR RWY 23. DUE TO THE LARGE VOLUME OF TFC AROUND ME, THAT I WAS WORRIED ABOUT STAYING AWAY FROM, AND NOT FULLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT TWR WANTED ME TO DO, I ASSUMED THAT I WAS TO CIRCLE ON THAT SIDE OF THE ARPT AND THEN GO FOR THE R DOWNWIND ENTRY. I THEN ASSUMED I WAS TO THE W WHEN I REALLY MOVED TO ABOUT 5 MI ENE TO CIRCLE. I THEN STARTED TO GO N, SO I COULD GO OUTSIDE THE PATTERN TO RE-ENTER AT THE R DOWNWIND AND ASKED TWR FOR INSTRUCTIONS AGAIN. AT THIS TIME THEY WANTED ME TO ENTER A L DOWNWIND SO I TURNED AND HEADED S, MOVING CLOSER TO THE ARPT AND AVOIDING TFC. ALL THIS TIME, I WAS MISTAKENLY RPTING TO THE W WHEN I WAS REALLY TO THE E. TWR AGAIN CHANGED INSTRUCTIONS AND TOLD ME TO ENTER R DOWNWIND FOR RWY 23. I THEN TURNED TO THE N AND WAS NOW ABOUT 3.5 NM ENE WHEN TWR ASKED WHO WAS MANEUVERING TO THE NE. AT THIS TIME, I REALIZED MY MISTAKE IN RPTING AND IMMEDIATELY TOLD THEM. THEY THOUGHT I WAS REMAINING OUTSIDE THEIR AIRSPACE SINCE PEOPLE WERE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING ON THE FREQ. I WAS THEN TOLD TO FOLLOW TFC WHICH I HAD RPTED IN SIGHT AND SAFELY LANDED WITH NO FURTHER CONFUSION.

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.