Date: 201511
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: GYI.Airport, TX
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Bonanza 35
Operator: Personal
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: None
Mission: Personal
Flight phase: Landing
ATC / advisory: Tower GYI
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Single Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Confusion; Training / Qualification
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Airport; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: I was out flying to stay current and was landing at GYI. The big runway (35R) is 9000 ft and not much challenge to land on. I wanted to give myself a bit more practice; so I decided; after checking NOTAMs; the AFD; and the airport diagram; that I would like to try Runway 13. It's only 2277 ft and had a more direct crosswind; so I figured it'd be a better practice strip and there is ample room on all sides of it. When requesting landing on Runway 13; I was told by ATC that it would be at my own risk since it wasn't kept up by the city.When climbing out from my touch-and-go on Runway 35R; I looked over at Runway 13 and it appeared to be clear of any debris and in pretty good shape except for that the numbers were pretty worn. Since I've flown in and out of grass strips that don't have any numbers; that didn't bother me. I saw the risk involved as about the same as landing on a grass strip or some out of the way backcountry hard-surface runway. I let ATC know that I was fine with the 'at my own risk' part of it. After being given some vectors to join final 3.5 miles out; I was told 'Landing Runway 13 at your own risk' without a landing clearance. I asked to controller to confirm I was 'cleared to land Runway 13; although I understand at my own risk'. He said; 'affirmative; at your own risk'. I continued to land and the runway seemed fine.Later; I was questioning whether I broke any rules by landing on that runway and I couldn't really find anything that was a solid yes or no. I looked at the 7110.65 and the AIM. All I could find was in the 7110; it said that ATC will give the 'at your own risk' verbiage if the Pilot persists (or if you're a helicopter from/to a non-normal spot). I didn't feel like I was persisting or insistent; but perhaps I was? To me it seemed like normal runway handling except the 'at your own risk' replacing the 'cleared to land' call. There is not a NOTAM stating the runway is closed or not maintained. There is also nothing in the A/FD stating 13/31 was closed; out of service; marginal; or otherwise unusable. Finally; the airport diagram made it look like a regular ole' runway with no notes or special instructions. I did check this stuff before takeoff; so this isn't just validating myself after the fact. I don't remember this specific circumstance being covered in my training; although it's been 10 years since my Private and 8 years since my Commercial.




Synopsis: BE35 pilot reported confusion regarding Tower's use of 'at your own risk' terminology.