2 low time pilots failed to file an IFR or DVFR plan zfp to fll.

Attributes
ACN	261903
Time
Date	199401
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zfp
State Reference	FO
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zfp
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Route In Use	enroute : other oceanic enroute : atlantic enroute airway : zma
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 400 flight time type : 320
ASRS Report	261903
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 250 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	261660
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated faa : assigned or threatened penalties
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

A low time flight instructor and a low time commercial pilot with 4 passenger, flew from omn to zfp. The commercial pilot filed a VFR flight plan with FSS and asked about any special requirements on the return. The commercial pilot did not understand having to file an IFR or DVFR flight plan on return. The only 'phone available at zpf' would not call out, so the pilots attempted to file a flight plan with zfp tower. Zfp tower would not answer their calls, so the pilots left and filed a VFR flight plan in the air with ZMA to fll to clear customs, then fly on to omn. Upon arrival at fll, the aircraft was met by the sheriff and customs officials. This is where the pilots and passenger found out that they should have filed a DVFR flight plan to enter the united states. Both pilots are very contrite over this incident and have learned a lot. The first takeoff attempt at zfp was aborted due to a door not being properly latched. All taxi and takeoff at zpf were conducted on unicom. Zfp tower did not answer any calls, but did later acknowledge that the rptrs had tried to contact them.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 2 LOW TIME PLTS FAILED TO FILE AN IFR OR DVFR PLAN ZFP TO FLL.

Narrative: A LOW TIME FLT INSTRUCTOR AND A LOW TIME COMMERCIAL PLT WITH 4 PAX, FLEW FROM OMN TO ZFP. THE COMMERCIAL PLT FILED A VFR FLT PLAN WITH FSS AND ASKED ABOUT ANY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS ON THE RETURN. THE COMMERCIAL PLT DID NOT UNDERSTAND HAVING TO FILE AN IFR OR DVFR FLT PLAN ON RETURN. THE ONLY 'PHONE AVAILABLE AT ZPF' WOULD NOT CALL OUT, SO THE PLTS ATTEMPTED TO FILE A FLT PLAN WITH ZFP TWR. ZFP TWR WOULD NOT ANSWER THEIR CALLS, SO THE PLTS LEFT AND FILED A VFR FLT PLAN IN THE AIR WITH ZMA TO FLL TO CLEAR CUSTOMS, THEN FLY ON TO OMN. UPON ARR AT FLL, THE ACFT WAS MET BY THE SHERIFF AND CUSTOMS OFFICIALS. THIS IS WHERE THE PLTS AND PAX FOUND OUT THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE FILED A DVFR FLT PLAN TO ENTER THE UNITED STATES. BOTH PLTS ARE VERY CONTRITE OVER THIS INCIDENT AND HAVE LEARNED A LOT. THE FIRST TKOF ATTEMPT AT ZFP WAS ABORTED DUE TO A DOOR NOT BEING PROPERLY LATCHED. ALL TAXI AND TKOF AT ZPF WERE CONDUCTED ON UNICOM. ZFP TWR DID NOT ANSWER ANY CALLS, BUT DID LATER ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE RPTRS HAD TRIED TO CONTACT THEM.

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.