Pilot of small aircraft failed to properly close VFR flight plan.

Attributes
ACN	135799
Time
Date	199002
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lin airport : 1o3
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sck
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent other landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 160 flight time type : 80
ASRS Report	135799
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit other other : unspecified atc
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight originated fat. VFR flight plan was filed. Fat-czq-lin-lodi. En route in sck approach airspace I asked the controller if he could clear me IFR through a cloud layer to lodi and cancel my VFR flight plan. I was not given, nor did no request flight following, or any other clearance before requesting IFR. ATC gave an IFR clearance, followed by the word 'wilco,' which was later clarified to mean VFR would be cancelled. On approach to lodi, conditions were VMC, squawk code 1200 was assigned and radar service was terminated. 30 mins later, on airport work, inquired about us saying that FSS and cap were out looking for us. I called FSS and explained the situation to them. In my estimation, resources have been wasted and/or undue risks associated with search and rescue have been taken due to an oversight by ATC or mis between ATC and myself.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA FAILED TO PROPERLY CLOSE VFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: FLT ORIGINATED FAT. VFR FLT PLAN WAS FILED. FAT-CZQ-LIN-LODI. ENRTE IN SCK APCH AIRSPACE I ASKED THE CTLR IF HE COULD CLR ME IFR THROUGH A CLOUD LAYER TO LODI AND CANCEL MY VFR FLT PLAN. I WAS NOT GIVEN, NOR DID NO REQUEST FLT FOLLOWING, OR ANY OTHER CLRNC BEFORE REQUESTING IFR. ATC GAVE AN IFR CLRNC, FOLLOWED BY THE WORD 'WILCO,' WHICH WAS LATER CLARIFIED TO MEAN VFR WOULD BE CANCELLED. ON APCH TO LODI, CONDITIONS WERE VMC, SQUAWK CODE 1200 WAS ASSIGNED AND RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED. 30 MINS LATER, ON ARPT WORK, INQUIRED ABOUT US SAYING THAT FSS AND CAP WERE OUT LOOKING FOR US. I CALLED FSS AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO THEM. IN MY ESTIMATION, RESOURCES HAVE BEEN WASTED AND/OR UNDUE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SEARCH AND RESCUE HAVE BEEN TAKEN DUE TO AN OVERSIGHT BY ATC OR MIS BTWN ATC AND MYSELF.

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.