Charter aircraft on vector for visual approach canceled IFR. Controller failed to hear.

Attributes
ACN	296910
Time
Date	199502
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : vig
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3200 msl bound upper : 3200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sju
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 33000 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	296910
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	296910
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Flight was inbound IFR to virgin gorda bvi, an uncontrolled airport, from antigua. On initial contact with sju approach control 128.65. We were cleared down to 4000 ft, the 3200 ft shortly thereafter and told to expect a 'visual approach' to runway 7 at beef island, we stated that we were landing vig (tupw) and had it in sight and were going to cancel instruments. No acknowledgement from controller. As we were quite high and close, we had to do considerable maneuvering to set down. As we made our blind call on 118.4 for traffic on our other radio, descending through 3700 ft, sjv approach called asking our altitude and what we were cleared to. Being extremely busy we couldn't discuss it with the controller but again stated 'cancel our IFR.' the problem we had was that we thought we had canceled but the controller didn't.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CHARTER ACFT ON VECTOR FOR VISUAL APCH CANCELED IFR. CTLR FAILED TO HEAR.

Narrative: FLT WAS INBOUND IFR TO VIRGIN GORDA BVI, AN UNCTLED ARPT, FROM ANTIGUA. ON INITIAL CONTACT WITH SJU APCH CTL 128.65. WE WERE CLRED DOWN TO 4000 FT, THE 3200 FT SHORTLY THEREAFTER AND TOLD TO EXPECT A 'VISUAL APCH' TO RWY 7 AT BEEF ISLAND, WE STATED THAT WE WERE LNDG VIG (TUPW) AND HAD IT IN SIGHT AND WERE GOING TO CANCEL INSTS. NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM CTLR. AS WE WERE QUITE HIGH AND CLOSE, WE HAD TO DO CONSIDERABLE MANEUVERING TO SET DOWN. AS WE MADE OUR BLIND CALL ON 118.4 FOR TFC ON OUR OTHER RADIO, DSNDING THROUGH 3700 FT, SJV APCH CALLED ASKING OUR ALT AND WHAT WE WERE CLRED TO. BEING EXTREMELY BUSY WE COULDN'T DISCUSS IT WITH THE CTLR BUT AGAIN STATED 'CANCEL OUR IFR.' THE PROB WE HAD WAS THAT WE THOUGHT WE HAD CANCELED BUT THE CTLR DIDN'T.

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.