Corp pilot cancels IFR flight plan, enters control zone prior to contact with FSS.

Attributes
ACN	122737
Time
Date	198909
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bwg
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 900 msl bound upper : 900
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 8700 flight time type : 2200
ASRS Report	122737
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I made 4 attempts to contact bwe FSS on 123.6 for advisory with no response. After making approach and entering VMC conditions, I asked ZME for the winds at bwg and received WX that was 1 hour old. I cancelled IFR at this time and was told to squawk 1200. I did, and tried bwg FSS 1 more time on 123.6. Now bwi answered and informed me that I was in a control zone west/O an IFR or special VFR clearance. I requested the special and was in the flare by the time I repeated the clearance; ie, 1) mem ARTCC was very busy; 2) bwg's lack of response to me and no other talk on radio led me to believe another FSS was closed; 3) I saw rotating beacon on, but did not dawn on me there was an active control zone because...; 4) I was in the landing phase of flight and looking for traffic from the time I cancelled the IFR clearance to landing about 1 min.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CORP PLT CANCELS IFR FLT PLAN, ENTERS CTL ZONE PRIOR TO CONTACT WITH FSS.

Narrative: I MADE 4 ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT BWE FSS ON 123.6 FOR ADVISORY WITH NO RESPONSE. AFTER MAKING APCH AND ENTERING VMC CONDITIONS, I ASKED ZME FOR THE WINDS AT BWG AND RECEIVED WX THAT WAS 1 HR OLD. I CANCELLED IFR AT THIS TIME AND WAS TOLD TO SQUAWK 1200. I DID, AND TRIED BWG FSS 1 MORE TIME ON 123.6. NOW BWI ANSWERED AND INFORMED ME THAT I WAS IN A CTL ZONE W/O AN IFR OR SPECIAL VFR CLRNC. I REQUESTED THE SPECIAL AND WAS IN THE FLARE BY THE TIME I REPEATED THE CLRNC; IE, 1) MEM ARTCC WAS VERY BUSY; 2) BWG'S LACK OF RESPONSE TO ME AND NO OTHER TALK ON RADIO LED ME TO BELIEVE ANOTHER FSS WAS CLOSED; 3) I SAW ROTATING BEACON ON, BUT DID NOT DAWN ON ME THERE WAS AN ACTIVE CTL ZONE BECAUSE...; 4) I WAS IN THE LNDG PHASE OF FLT AND LOOKING FOR TFC FROM THE TIME I CANCELLED THE IFR CLRNC TO LNDG ABOUT 1 MIN.

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.