Small aircraft pilot has radio problem, fails to cancel IFR.

Attributes
ACN	224179
Time
Date	199210
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : erv
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zhu tracon : lax
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent other landing other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 145
ASRS Report	224179
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on an IFR flight plan from dto to kerrville, tx, I was in clear conditions under houston center's control, 5 mi north of the airport at kerrville. I was cleared from 5000 ft to 4000 ft when I apparently lost contact with houston center. They had just told me to descend to 4000 ft and assigned a visual approach and to cancel my IFR flight plan with san angelo FSS. I replied field in sight and to cancel my IFR flight plan. I did not know that they had not received my message. When I got closer to the field and tried to call the center again and tell them that I was going to unicom frequency, but was unable to contact houston center. I was unable to contact unicom and landed uneventfully. I learned the next day that ATC had called the FBO and said that I had not cancelled flight plan. I believed that I did cancel flight plan and was shocked. I have been flying since 1956 (25 yrs as an military pilot) and flying light aircraft during and since military retirement. I have never had an incident, accident, violation and have never filled out any paperwork such as this in the military or in civilian flying. Flying safety has always been a priority to me and I always attempt to adhere to safety and FAA rules and regulations.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT HAS RADIO PROBLEM, FAILS TO CANCEL IFR.

Narrative: WHILE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM DTO TO KERRVILLE, TX, I WAS IN CLR CONDITIONS UNDER HOUSTON CTR'S CTL, 5 MI N OF THE ARPT AT KERRVILLE. I WAS CLRED FROM 5000 FT TO 4000 FT WHEN I APPARENTLY LOST CONTACT WITH HOUSTON CTR. THEY HAD JUST TOLD ME TO DSND TO 4000 FT AND ASSIGNED A VISUAL APCH AND TO CANCEL MY IFR FLT PLAN WITH SAN ANGELO FSS. I REPLIED FIELD IN SIGHT AND TO CANCEL MY IFR FLT PLAN. I DID NOT KNOW THAT THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED MY MESSAGE. WHEN I GOT CLOSER TO THE FIELD AND TRIED TO CALL THE CTR AGAIN AND TELL THEM THAT I WAS GOING TO UNICOM FREQ, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT HOUSTON CTR. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT UNICOM AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. I LEARNED THE NEXT DAY THAT ATC HAD CALLED THE FBO AND SAID THAT I HAD NOT CANCELLED FLT PLAN. I BELIEVED THAT I DID CANCEL FLT PLAN AND WAS SHOCKED. I HAVE BEEN FLYING SINCE 1956 (25 YRS AS AN MIL PLT) AND FLYING LIGHT ACFT DURING AND SINCE MIL RETIREMENT. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN INCIDENT, ACCIDENT, VIOLATION AND HAVE NEVER FILLED OUT ANY PAPERWORK SUCH AS THIS IN THE MIL OR IN CIVILIAN FLYING. FLYING SAFETY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PRIORITY TO ME AND I ALWAYS ATTEMPT TO ADHERE TO SAFETY AND FAA RULES AND REGS.

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.