Small aircraft cancels IFR due loss of ATC radar contact.

Attributes
ACN	156836
Time
Date	199009
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : emp airport : 3au
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 3735 flight time type : 3200
ASRS Report	156836
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Filed and cleared racine, wi, to 3AU. Last leg was emp direct 3AU. (58 mi on 220 degree right). We have no DME but do have LORAN which is not used for IFR navigation. Center lost radar contact 20 mi southwest of emp and requested we report 35 mi from wichita. WX was 30 percent coverage with rain showers and thunderstorms bases 8000-12000', excellent visibility. WX to west of our route was worse and center was busy. We cancelled IFR rather than remind center we had no DME and negotiate another reporting point. Our intent was to fly to 3AU (intersection 093 degree right of wichita and 220 degree right emporia) and cancel. Forecast was for good VFR.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA CANCELS IFR DUE LOSS OF ATC RADAR CONTACT.

Narrative: FILED AND CLRED RACINE, WI, TO 3AU. LAST LEG WAS EMP DIRECT 3AU. (58 MI ON 220 DEG R). WE HAVE NO DME BUT DO HAVE LORAN WHICH IS NOT USED FOR IFR NAV. CTR LOST RADAR CONTACT 20 MI SW OF EMP AND REQUESTED WE RPT 35 MI FROM WICHITA. WX WAS 30 PERCENT COVERAGE WITH RAIN SHOWERS AND TSTMS BASES 8000-12000', EXCELLENT VISIBILITY. WX TO W OF OUR RTE WAS WORSE AND CTR WAS BUSY. WE CANCELLED IFR RATHER THAN REMIND CTR WE HAD NO DME AND NEGOTIATE ANOTHER RPTING POINT. OUR INTENT WAS TO FLY TO 3AU (INTXN 093 DEG R OF WICHITA AND 220 DEG R EMPORIA) AND CANCEL. FORECAST WAS FOR GOOD VFR.

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.