Narrative:

I was being vectored for visual approach to runway 36 at lit. At 2000 ft MSL and approximately 1.5 mi northwest of the airport assigned heading of 320 degrees, controller advised I could turn west to lose altitude if necessary. I responded I would perform left turn to lose altitude. I began left turn and while in the turn on heading of approximately 160 degrees with the airport to my left, controller advised me to execute right turn back around to land on runway 4L, because the most direct approach to runway 36, previously assigned runway, was to continue the left turn, and thinking he had mistakenly told me to turn right for landing on runway 4L, I advised I would continue left turn and requested runway 36. At about the same time, I saw a commercial B737 approaching my position from the southwest apparently on visual approach to runway 4R. The B737 appeared to be 2 mi southwest of my position and perhaps 500 ft higher and descending. I immediately executed descending right turn to avoid further conflict while the controller was advising me to do so. I was cleared to land on runway 4L and did so uneventfully except for notice to call the TRACON.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT WAS CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 36 AT LIT. LATER, THE APCH CTLR CLRED HIM FOR A R TURN FOR LNDG ON RWY 4L. THE PLT CONTINUED THE L TURN FOR LNDG ON RWY 36. HE CONFLICTED WITH A B737 AS A RESULT.

Narrative: I WAS BEING VECTORED FOR VISUAL APCH TO RWY 36 AT LIT. AT 2000 FT MSL AND APPROX 1.5 MI NW OF THE ARPT ASSIGNED HDG OF 320 DEGS, CTLR ADVISED I COULD TURN W TO LOSE ALT IF NECESSARY. I RESPONDED I WOULD PERFORM L TURN TO LOSE ALT. I BEGAN L TURN AND WHILE IN THE TURN ON HDG OF APPROX 160 DEGS WITH THE ARPT TO MY L, CTLR ADVISED ME TO EXECUTE R TURN BACK AROUND TO LAND ON RWY 4L, BECAUSE THE MOST DIRECT APCH TO RWY 36, PREVIOUSLY ASSIGNED RWY, WAS TO CONTINUE THE L TURN, AND THINKING HE HAD MISTAKENLY TOLD ME TO TURN R FOR LNDG ON RWY 4L, I ADVISED I WOULD CONTINUE L TURN AND REQUESTED RWY 36. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, I SAW A COMMERCIAL B737 APCHING MY POS FROM THE SW APPARENTLY ON VISUAL APCH TO RWY 4R. THE B737 APPEARED TO BE 2 MI SW OF MY POS AND PERHAPS 500 FT HIGHER AND DSNDING. I IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED DSNDING R TURN TO AVOID FURTHER CONFLICT WHILE THE CTLR WAS ADVISING ME TO DO SO. I WAS CLRED TO LAND ON RWY 4L AND DID SO UNEVENTFULLY EXCEPT FOR NOTICE TO CALL THE TRACON.

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.