Possible VFR in IMC. ATC workload problem.

Attributes
ACN	121947
Time
Date	198909
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ord airport : cgx
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ord tower : bos
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	121947
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

During a pleasure trip to chicago I was handed off to chicago approach control. My flight conditions were VMC on an IFR flight plan. The destination initially was gary, in, because my preferred choice, meigs field, was only a visual approach published. Because of this fact, I contacted meigs to inquire about their current conditions which were 10,000, indefinite 2 mi. As I was VMC I had asked and was told special VFR into the control zone was being granted. With this information, when handed off to chicago approach control, I inquired if I could maintain radar service and transition for the special. His answer was 'no'. The only options available were for me to either cancel IFR or land at gary. I did cancel IFR and landed at meigs without incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: POSSIBLE VFR IN IMC. ATC WORKLOAD PROBLEM.

Narrative: DURING A PLEASURE TRIP TO CHICAGO I WAS HANDED OFF TO CHICAGO APCH CTL. MY FLT CONDITIONS WERE VMC ON AN IFR FLT PLAN. THE DEST INITIALLY WAS GARY, IN, BECAUSE MY PREFERRED CHOICE, MEIGS FIELD, WAS ONLY A VISUAL APCH PUBLISHED. BECAUSE OF THIS FACT, I CONTACTED MEIGS TO INQUIRE ABOUT THEIR CURRENT CONDITIONS WHICH WERE 10,000, INDEFINITE 2 MI. AS I WAS VMC I HAD ASKED AND WAS TOLD SPECIAL VFR INTO THE CTL ZONE WAS BEING GRANTED. WITH THIS INFO, WHEN HANDED OFF TO CHICAGO APCH CTL, I INQUIRED IF I COULD MAINTAIN RADAR SERVICE AND TRANSITION FOR THE SPECIAL. HIS ANSWER WAS 'NO'. THE ONLY OPTIONS AVAILABLE WERE FOR ME TO EITHER CANCEL IFR OR LAND AT GARY. I DID CANCEL IFR AND LANDED AT MEIGS WITHOUT INCIDENT.

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.