VFR on top cruising did not meet minimum IFR cruising altitude criteria.

Attributes
ACN	118320
Time
Date	198907
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : den
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 14500 msl bound upper : 16300
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : v134
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 2300 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	118320
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on an IFR flight plan and requested VFR on top at 14500'; the controller cleared me for this. About 10 mins later he came back and told me that I was entering an area where the minimum IFR altitude was 16300', and said no more. I thought he was just letting me know that there was higher terrain. Since then I have reread the regulations and aim, and find that even on a VFR on top clearance, I must maintain minimum IFR altitudes. I have done this very same action 5-10 times in the last 4 months west/O understanding the regulation. I believe that if a controller knows or believes that you are breaking a regulation that he should advise you if possible, or suggest that altitude due to regulations. Pilots could also spend more time becoming familiar with regulations and the aim.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR ON TOP CRUISING DID NOT MEET MINIMUM IFR CRUISING ALT CRITERIA.

Narrative: I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN AND REQUESTED VFR ON TOP AT 14500'; THE CTLR CLRED ME FOR THIS. ABOUT 10 MINS LATER HE CAME BACK AND TOLD ME THAT I WAS ENTERING AN AREA WHERE THE MINIMUM IFR ALT WAS 16300', AND SAID NO MORE. I THOUGHT HE WAS JUST LETTING ME KNOW THAT THERE WAS HIGHER TERRAIN. SINCE THEN I HAVE REREAD THE REGS AND AIM, AND FIND THAT EVEN ON A VFR ON TOP CLRNC, I MUST MAINTAIN MINIMUM IFR ALTS. I HAVE DONE THIS VERY SAME ACTION 5-10 TIMES IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS W/O UNDERSTANDING THE REG. I BELIEVE THAT IF A CTLR KNOWS OR BELIEVES THAT YOU ARE BREAKING A REG THAT HE SHOULD ADVISE YOU IF POSSIBLE, OR SUGGEST THAT ALT DUE TO REGS. PLTS COULD ALSO SPEND MORE TIME BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH REGS AND THE AIM.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.