RPTING PLT OF AN SEL SMA QUESTIONED THE TWR CTLR'S GAR INSTRUCTIONS DURING LNDG APCH DUE TO OBSERVING THE PREVIOUS LNDG RANS S-7 (AMATEUR BUILT) HAD ALREADY CLRED THE RWY. HOWEVER; THE TWR CTLR BELIEVED THAT THE RPTR HAD NOT RESPONDED AT ONCE TO THE GAR AND THREATENED LEGAL ACTION.
Synopsis
RPTING PLT OF AN SEL SMA QUESTIONED THE TWR CTLR'S GAR INSTRUCTIONS DURING LNDG APCH DUE TO OBSERVING THE PREVIOUS LNDG RANS S-7 (AMATEUR BUILT) HAD ALREADY CLRED THE RWY. HOWEVER; THE TWR CTLR BELIEVED THAT THE RPTR HAD NOT RESPONDED AT ONCE TO THE GAR AND THREATENED LEGAL ACTION.
Narrative
I HAD BEEN CLRED TO LAND BEHIND A LIGHT EXPERIMENTAL (A RANS S-7) THAT WAS CLRING THE RWY AFTER A SHORT GND ROLL. THE TWR CTLR XMITTED AN UNEXPECTED 'GAR.' I INITIATED A GAR; AND PICKED UP THE MIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE; BUT COULD NOT DO SO BEFORE TWR REPEATED THE INSTRUCTION WITH UNNECESSARY URGENCY. THE RANS WAS NOW PAST THE TXWY HOLD LINE; TURNING ONTO THE PARALLEL TXWY. I ASSURED TWR THAT I COULD GO AROUND; AND ADVISED THAT THE RWY APPEARED TO BE CLR. NO REPLY. I FLEW PAST THE EXPERIMENTAL'S EXIT POINT; AND ASKED 'DO YOU STILL WANT ME TO GO AROUND?' AFTER A SHORT DELAY; TWR CLRED ME TO LAND. I ACKNOWLEDGED; AND DID SO. (I STILL HAD ABOUT 7000 FT OF RWY.) GND CTL REQUESTED A CALL. I COMPLIED. HE WAS QUITE AGITATED; AND ASSERTED THAT 'GAR' WAS A COMMAND THAT REQUIRED ABSOLUTE COMPLIANCE; THAT CTLRS CARRY THAT DESIGNATION BECAUSE THEY ARE IN CTL; AND THREATENED NTSB ACTION. THERE WASN'T MUCH OPPORTUNITY FOR A USEFUL DISCUSSION. I DON'T THINK HE UNDERSTOOD THAT I WAS 'ON THE GO' WHEN REQUESTING A CONFIRMATION OF TWR'S VIEW OF THE SIT. I BELIEVE THAT SOME PHASE OF CTLR TRAINING WAS IN PROGRESS; THAT THE GND CTLR WAS THE SHIFT SUPVR; AND THAT THE TRAINEE AND SUPVR BOTH LOST TRACK OF THE EXPERIMENTAL WHEN HE LEFT THE RWY. THEIR EXPECTATION MUST HAVE BEEN THAT HE WOULD NOT USE THAT EXIT; AND PROBABLY WERE CONVINCED THAT HE WAS IN MY WAY. I COULD SEE THAT WAS NOT THE CASE; AND ASSUMED THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER PROB. I FELT THAT THE EASIEST COM WAS TO LET THEM KNOW THE RWY APPEARED TO BE CLR FOR ME. WHEN I RECEIVED MY SECOND CLRNC TO LAND; I WAS CONVINCED THAT THEY HAD FOUND THE RANS ON THE TXWY AND NOW AGREED WITH ME THAT THE RWY WAS; AND HAD BEEN; CLR. I NEVER REFUSED TO COMPLY; BUT DID WANT AN AFFIRMATION OF THEIR NEED FOR A GAR BEFORE CONTINUING ON THAT PATH. MY SPACING ON THE S-7 WAS ABOUT NORMAL. THERE WAS SOME CLOSURE AS HE SLOWED AND LEFT THE RWY. I WAS FULLY AWARE THAT IF HE DIDN'T USE THAT TXWY HE WOULD STILL BE ON THE RWY; AND WOULD PROBABLY NOT HAVE PROPER SEPARATION FOR MY LNDG; BUT IT WAS FULLY APPARENT THAT HE WAS CLRING BEFORE TWR'S FIRST CALL. I AM DISMAYED THAT THIS EVENT CREATED CTLR CONCERN; AND AM DISTURBED WITH THE SUPVR'S ATTITUDE. I INTEND TO AVOID A RECURRENCE OF THIS SCENARIO BY ADDING A MI OR TWO TO MY TFC PATTERN SEPARATION AT THIS ARPT IN THE FUTURE.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.