C172 lands at mlu when only a low approach clearance was issued.

Attributes
ACN	606681
Time
Date	200401
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mlu.airport
State Reference	LA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : roll
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 63.1
ASRS Report	606681
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	incursion : landing without clearance non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I am a student pilot practicing lndgs in mlu traffic pattern. I had done a total of 3 touch-and-goes when the tower told me to do a low approach. I misunderstood the clearance he gave me and landed on the runway. I fully realize now what I did, but didn't understand the clearance at the time. I believe that in the future, pilots should be given more specific information, not just cleared low approach. This can be confused with cleared touch-and-go. At the monroe ATC tower, there are also many student controllers, along with a high volume of student pilots. I believe this makes matters worse and more confusing. If ATC doesn't want someone to land, they should give other instructions, like extend downwind, or there is traffic coming in so we will tell you when to make your approach to land.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 LANDS AT MLU WHEN ONLY A LOW APCH CLRNC WAS ISSUED.

Narrative: I AM A STUDENT PLT PRACTICING LNDGS IN MLU TFC PATTERN. I HAD DONE A TOTAL OF 3 TOUCH-AND-GOES WHEN THE TWR TOLD ME TO DO A LOW APCH. I MISUNDERSTOOD THE CLRNC HE GAVE ME AND LANDED ON THE RWY. I FULLY REALIZE NOW WHAT I DID, BUT DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE CLRNC AT THE TIME. I BELIEVE THAT IN THE FUTURE, PLTS SHOULD BE GIVEN MORE SPECIFIC INFO, NOT JUST CLRED LOW APCH. THIS CAN BE CONFUSED WITH CLRED TOUCH-AND-GO. AT THE MONROE ATC TWR, THERE ARE ALSO MANY STUDENT CTLRS, ALONG WITH A HIGH VOLUME OF STUDENT PLTS. I BELIEVE THIS MAKES MATTERS WORSE AND MORE CONFUSING. IF ATC DOESN'T WANT SOMEONE TO LAND, THEY SHOULD GIVE OTHER INSTRUCTIONS, LIKE EXTEND DOWNWIND, OR THERE IS TFC COMING IN SO WE WILL TELL YOU WHEN TO MAKE YOUR APCH TO LAND.

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.