Estimated time en route copied wrong. FSS thought the aircraft was overdue.

Attributes
ACN	247139
Time
Date	199306
Day	Tue
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rdm
State Reference	OR
Altitude	agl bound lower : 1000 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
ASRS Report	247139
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I had filed a VFR flight plan with an en route time of 1 hour, 50 mins. I had calculated a generous en route time because the local WX briefing reported strong headwinds. Since the flight was over relatively flat, sparsely populated country, I was able to fly approximately 1000 ft AGL -- low enough to help minimize the headwind component. About an hour and 15 mins en route, I estimated I was about 20 mins from my destination and about 10-15 mins early on my flight plan. I tuned the radio to the local CTAF, which also serves the FSS. Almost immediately, I heard my aircraft call numbers. When I responded, the FSS wanted to know if I was in the area, they had me about 15 mins overdue on my flight plan. I apologized, advised I had the field in sight and requested my flight plan be closed. In retrospect, when I filed the flight plan, the controller probably heard '1 hour 15 mins' instead of '1 hour 50 mins.' next time, I'll file for '1 hour, five zero mins.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ESTIMATED TIME ENRTE COPIED WRONG. FSS THOUGHT THE ACFT WAS OVERDUE.

Narrative: I HAD FILED A VFR FLT PLAN WITH AN ENRTE TIME OF 1 HR, 50 MINS. I HAD CALCULATED A GENEROUS ENRTE TIME BECAUSE THE LCL WX BRIEFING RPTED STRONG HEADWINDS. SINCE THE FLT WAS OVER RELATIVELY FLAT, SPARSELY POPULATED COUNTRY, I WAS ABLE TO FLY APPROX 1000 FT AGL -- LOW ENOUGH TO HELP MINIMIZE THE HEADWIND COMPONENT. ABOUT AN HR AND 15 MINS ENRTE, I ESTIMATED I WAS ABOUT 20 MINS FROM MY DEST AND ABOUT 10-15 MINS EARLY ON MY FLT PLAN. I TUNED THE RADIO TO THE LCL CTAF, WHICH ALSO SERVES THE FSS. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, I HEARD MY ACFT CALL NUMBERS. WHEN I RESPONDED, THE FSS WANTED TO KNOW IF I WAS IN THE AREA, THEY HAD ME ABOUT 15 MINS OVERDUE ON MY FLT PLAN. I APOLOGIZED, ADVISED I HAD THE FIELD IN SIGHT AND REQUESTED MY FLT PLAN BE CLOSED. IN RETROSPECT, WHEN I FILED THE FLT PLAN, THE CTLR PROBABLY HEARD '1 HR 15 MINS' INSTEAD OF '1 HR 50 MINS.' NEXT TIME, I'LL FILE FOR '1 HR, FIVE ZERO MINS.'

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.