Small aircraft pilot accused of failing to cancel IFR flight plan.

Attributes
ACN	224445
Time
Date	199210
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bwi
State Reference	MD
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bwi
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	ground : parked landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
ASRS Report	224445
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Was on IFR flight plan from N99 (brandywine) to fdl. At 5 mi east of EMI VOR, I was instructed to cross over EMI and proceed direct for the ILS 23 approach at fdk. I was instructed that I could either cancel the IFR flight plan on the current ATC frequency of 126.75 or cancel on frequency 126.9 after landing. I acknowledged. While making an ILS approach, I was asked by ATC on frequency 126.75 if the airport was in sight. Upon confirmation by me I was informed by ATC that my IFR flight plan was cancelled and instructed to squawk 1200 along with frequency change approval. I changed squawk, change frequency, and continued to land. I must note that I was busy at the time as I was on the localizer. To my assumption, this cancelled my flight plan. Later, I contacted bwi departure on 126.9 for the IFR clearance to make the return flight. At this time I was asked when I landed and why I did not close my flight plan. I proceeded to tell bwi clearance why I thought it was cancelled, by going through the steps that occurred. I did not receive any further comment and proceeded to receive my clearance for the return trip. I must conclude that the error was mine, as I do not remember if I specifically confirmed with bwi approach on 126.75 that the IFR flight plan was cancelled.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT ACCUSED OF FAILING TO CANCEL IFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: WAS ON IFR FLT PLAN FROM N99 (BRANDYWINE) TO FDL. AT 5 MI E OF EMI VOR, I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CROSS OVER EMI AND PROCEED DIRECT FOR THE ILS 23 APCH AT FDK. I WAS INSTRUCTED THAT I COULD EITHER CANCEL THE IFR FLT PLAN ON THE CURRENT ATC FREQ OF 126.75 OR CANCEL ON FREQ 126.9 AFTER LNDG. I ACKNOWLEDGED. WHILE MAKING AN ILS APCH, I WAS ASKED BY ATC ON FREQ 126.75 IF THE ARPT WAS IN SIGHT. UPON CONFIRMATION BY ME I WAS INFORMED BY ATC THAT MY IFR FLT PLAN WAS CANCELLED AND INSTRUCTED TO SQUAWK 1200 ALONG WITH FREQ CHANGE APPROVAL. I CHANGED SQUAWK, CHANGE FREQ, AND CONTINUED TO LAND. I MUST NOTE THAT I WAS BUSY AT THE TIME AS I WAS ON THE LOC. TO MY ASSUMPTION, THIS CANCELLED MY FLT PLAN. LATER, I CONTACTED BWI DEP ON 126.9 FOR THE IFR CLRNC TO MAKE THE RETURN FLT. AT THIS TIME I WAS ASKED WHEN I LANDED AND WHY I DID NOT CLOSE MY FLT PLAN. I PROCEEDED TO TELL BWI CLRNC WHY I THOUGHT IT WAS CANCELLED, BY GOING THROUGH THE STEPS THAT OCCURRED. I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY FURTHER COMMENT AND PROCEEDED TO RECEIVE MY CLRNC FOR THE RETURN TRIP. I MUST CONCLUDE THAT THE ERROR WAS MINE, AS I DO NOT REMEMBER IF I SPECIFICALLY CONFIRMED WITH BWI APCH ON 126.75 THAT THE IFR FLT PLAN WAS CANCELLED.

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.