Small aircraft cancels IFR when WX is not quite VFR.

Attributes
ACN	226058
Time
Date	199211
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : onp airport : 554
State Reference	OR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zse
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 750 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	226058
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was inbound to onp (IFR clearance) VOR a approach. Broke out at MDA approximately 4 mi from onp VOR. I had onp in sight and asked to cancel my clearance. Was granted request. I looked over the area and decided to proceed to 5s4 (toledo state). Center asked 'is control zone active?' I answered, 'I don't think so' based on my observation at approximately 800 MSL at time. My errors were 'control zone' active is based on reported WX and I should have requested a special VFR. Additionally, I was viewing ceiling as MSL not AGL onp 156 ft, ocean 0. Reported WX 800 overcast estimated, 1 mi drizzle and fog, estimated actual from pilot position at arrival approximately 3 plus mi and 1000 ft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA CANCELS IFR WHEN WX IS NOT QUITE VFR.

Narrative: I WAS INBOUND TO ONP (IFR CLRNC) VOR A APCH. BROKE OUT AT MDA APPROX 4 MI FROM ONP VOR. I HAD ONP IN SIGHT AND ASKED TO CANCEL MY CLRNC. WAS GRANTED REQUEST. I LOOKED OVER THE AREA AND DECIDED TO PROCEED TO 5S4 (TOLEDO STATE). CTR ASKED 'IS CTL ZONE ACTIVE?' I ANSWERED, 'I DON'T THINK SO' BASED ON MY OBSERVATION AT APPROX 800 MSL AT TIME. MY ERRORS WERE 'CTL ZONE' ACTIVE IS BASED ON RPTED WX AND I SHOULD HAVE REQUESTED A SPECIAL VFR. ADDITIONALLY, I WAS VIEWING CEILING AS MSL NOT AGL ONP 156 FT, OCEAN 0. RPTED WX 800 OVCST ESTIMATED, 1 MI DRIZZLE AND FOG, ESTIMATED ACTUAL FROM PLT POS AT ARR APPROX 3 PLUS MI AND 1000 FT.

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.