Narrative:

ZJX advised me to expect the localizer runway 36 approach circling to land runway 18. I was extremely busy and committed to a 700' decision ht (640' required). I switched to unicom as requested, and was advised appropriately to get back to ZJX if necessary. When I completed the 6.5 mi from the LOM, I was at 700' still in partial IMC. However, we suddenly had the runway in sight under us and started our circling approach. The runway almost disappeared in fog while circling. I was just declaring missed approach when visibility quickly returned and I was able to execute the landing. I taxied to ocala avionics to received my repaired stormscope. While waiting, I called FSS to inquire about the WX for my return trip to 445. Not knowing how long the installation would take, I did not file a flight plan then. (Had I filed, FSS would have had my north# and my un-closed flight plan would have been discovered earlier.) 45 mins someone with a hand-held receiver arrived at the avionics shop and asked if identify aircraft belonged to me. It was then I realized I should have cancelled on the ground! I spoke with both FSS and ZJX. I was informed search and rescue had already been contacted and were looking for a crashed airplane in the ocala area. I apologized sincerely and expressed my dismay at my omission/inaction. I have approximately 250 hours of INS time, 65 of which are actual. Only 3 time have I had to approach to minimums and 1 of those was a missed approach. This is, of course, no excuse for forgetting to cancel, but being so busy on the approach and so relieved to arrive was a factor. Moreover, 95% of my IFR flying ends with lndgs at tower controled airports where my flight plan is automatically cancelled. When I have arrived at uncontrolled airport, WX conditions have allowed visibility approachs and I have cancelled IFR on the air. It took a long time to find me on the ocala airport, because no one knew I was going to FBO. In future, I will always include 'destination contact/phone' listed as #17 on the flight plan form, which states '(optional).' for me, it will be mandatory from now on.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA PLT FAILED TO CLOSE FLT PLAN AFTER LNDG AT NON TWR ARPT FROM AN IAP LOCALIZER APCH CIRCLE TO LAND.

Narrative: ZJX ADVISED ME TO EXPECT THE LOC RWY 36 APCH CIRCLING TO LAND RWY 18. I WAS EXTREMELY BUSY AND COMMITTED TO A 700' DECISION HT (640' REQUIRED). I SWITCHED TO UNICOM AS REQUESTED, AND WAS ADVISED APPROPRIATELY TO GET BACK TO ZJX IF NECESSARY. WHEN I COMPLETED THE 6.5 MI FROM THE LOM, I WAS AT 700' STILL IN PARTIAL IMC. HOWEVER, WE SUDDENLY HAD THE RWY IN SIGHT UNDER US AND STARTED OUR CIRCLING APCH. THE RWY ALMOST DISAPPEARED IN FOG WHILE CIRCLING. I WAS JUST DECLARING MISSED APCH WHEN VISIBILITY QUICKLY RETURNED AND I WAS ABLE TO EXECUTE THE LNDG. I TAXIED TO OCALA AVIONICS TO RECEIVED MY REPAIRED STORMSCOPE. WHILE WAITING, I CALLED FSS TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE WX FOR MY RETURN TRIP TO 445. NOT KNOWING HOW LONG THE INSTALLATION WOULD TAKE, I DID NOT FILE A FLT PLAN THEN. (HAD I FILED, FSS WOULD HAVE HAD MY N# AND MY UN-CLOSED FLT PLAN WOULD HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED EARLIER.) 45 MINS SOMEONE WITH A HAND-HELD RECEIVER ARRIVED AT THE AVIONICS SHOP AND ASKED IF IDENT ACFT BELONGED TO ME. IT WAS THEN I REALIZED I SHOULD HAVE CANCELLED ON THE GND! I SPOKE WITH BOTH FSS AND ZJX. I WAS INFORMED SEARCH AND RESCUE HAD ALREADY BEEN CONTACTED AND WERE LOOKING FOR A CRASHED AIRPLANE IN THE OCALA AREA. I APOLOGIZED SINCERELY AND EXPRESSED MY DISMAY AT MY OMISSION/INACTION. I HAVE APPROX 250 HRS OF INS TIME, 65 OF WHICH ARE ACTUAL. ONLY 3 TIME HAVE I HAD TO APCH TO MINIMUMS AND 1 OF THOSE WAS A MISSED APCH. THIS IS, OF COURSE, NO EXCUSE FOR FORGETTING TO CANCEL, BUT BEING SO BUSY ON THE APCH AND SO RELIEVED TO ARRIVE WAS A FACTOR. MOREOVER, 95% OF MY IFR FLYING ENDS WITH LNDGS AT TWR CTLED ARPTS WHERE MY FLT PLAN IS AUTOMATICALLY CANCELLED. WHEN I HAVE ARRIVED AT UNCONTROLLED ARPT, WX CONDITIONS HAVE ALLOWED VIS APCHS AND I HAVE CANCELLED IFR ON THE AIR. IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO FIND ME ON THE OCALA ARPT, BECAUSE NO ONE KNEW I WAS GOING TO FBO. IN FUTURE, I WILL ALWAYS INCLUDE 'DEST CONTACT/PHONE' LISTED AS #17 ON THE FLT PLAN FORM, WHICH STATES '(OPTIONAL).' FOR ME, IT WILL BE MANDATORY FROM NOW ON.

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