GA small aircraft changed to VFR code without cancelling IFR flight plan.

Attributes
ACN	129618
Time
Date	198911
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tki
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dfw
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 93 flight time total : 200 flight time type : 180
ASRS Report	129618
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on IFR flight plan (second solo IFR since IFR certificate issued), I was cleared for visibility approach, 'advise IFR cancellation, frequency change approved.' controller said, 'how do you want to cancel IFR--by frequency, or on track once on the ground?' I replied, 'TRACON on ground.' controller said, 'do you have that #?' I replied with #. He said, 'that's it! Visibility approach approved, advise IFR cancellation, frequency change approved.' I proceeded to squawk 1200, switched communication to local airport frequency and landed. I went to the FBO to make a phone call to TRACON to cancel like controller said. Line man gave me message to call TRACON immediately. When I called, they told me that I should have cancelled IFR with controller in the air, 'can't just squawk 1200 like that,' and 'don't do it again, please.' my synopsis is that the terminology, 'advise IFR cancellation, frequency change approved,' must mean I should advise ATC that I want IFR cancelled and then the frequency change is already approved. I thought the terminology meant that ATC was advising me that my IFR was cancelled and I could change frequencys. I still don't know why he gave me the option to cancel in the air or on ground with TRACON.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA CHANGED TO VFR CODE WITHOUT CANCELLING IFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: WHILE ON IFR FLT PLAN (SECOND SOLO IFR SINCE IFR CERTIFICATE ISSUED), I WAS CLRED FOR VIS APCH, 'ADVISE IFR CANCELLATION, FREQ CHANGE APPROVED.' CTLR SAID, 'HOW DO YOU WANT TO CANCEL IFR--BY FREQ, OR ON TRACK ONCE ON THE GND?' I REPLIED, 'TRACON ON GND.' CTLR SAID, 'DO YOU HAVE THAT #?' I REPLIED WITH #. HE SAID, 'THAT'S IT! VIS APCH APPROVED, ADVISE IFR CANCELLATION, FREQ CHANGE APPROVED.' I PROCEEDED TO SQUAWK 1200, SWITCHED COM TO LCL ARPT FREQ AND LANDED. I WENT TO THE FBO TO MAKE A PHONE CALL TO TRACON TO CANCEL LIKE CTLR SAID. LINE MAN GAVE ME MESSAGE TO CALL TRACON IMMEDIATELY. WHEN I CALLED, THEY TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE CANCELLED IFR WITH CTLR IN THE AIR, 'CAN'T JUST SQUAWK 1200 LIKE THAT,' AND 'DON'T DO IT AGAIN, PLEASE.' MY SYNOPSIS IS THAT THE TERMINOLOGY, 'ADVISE IFR CANCELLATION, FREQ CHANGE APPROVED,' MUST MEAN I SHOULD ADVISE ATC THAT I WANT IFR CANCELLED AND THEN THE FREQ CHANGE IS ALREADY APPROVED. I THOUGHT THE TERMINOLOGY MEANT THAT ATC WAS ADVISING ME THAT MY IFR WAS CANCELLED AND I COULD CHANGE FREQS. I STILL DON'T KNOW WHY HE GAVE ME THE OPTION TO CANCEL IN THE AIR OR ON GND WITH TRACON.

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.