Clearance confusion communication breakdown.

Attributes
ACN	319460
Time
Date	199510
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cgi
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15000 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	AG-CAT Turbo
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 9200 flight time type : 1600
ASRS Report	319460
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

On oct/xx/95 we were doing system checks on a gulfstream ii. We had filed IFR from cps to cou for system work en route and approachs at cou. Another IFR flight plan was filed back from cou to cps via cgi VOR if we needed additional system work over cgi on the return. After finishing at cou we asked for a clearance from ZKC for direct cgi and 15000 ft, which is what they gave us. As we passed over cgi, kansas city was talking to someone else. I assumed they would come back to us soon to ask our intentions or we would call them. However, at this point kansas city called and instead of asking intentions, asked if we were cleared beyond cgi, indicating we were continuing without clearance. There was no indicated conflict or evasive action. Kansas city did not indicate complaint action. However, we should have established the intended clearance for after cgi. I had assumed center was more aware of our intentions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLRNC CONFUSION COM BREAKDOWN.

Narrative: ON OCT/XX/95 WE WERE DOING SYS CHKS ON A GULFSTREAM II. WE HAD FILED IFR FROM CPS TO COU FOR SYS WORK ENRTE AND APCHS AT COU. ANOTHER IFR FLT PLAN WAS FILED BACK FROM COU TO CPS VIA CGI VOR IF WE NEEDED ADDITIONAL SYS WORK OVER CGI ON THE RETURN. AFTER FINISHING AT COU WE ASKED FOR A CLRNC FROM ZKC FOR DIRECT CGI AND 15000 FT, WHICH IS WHAT THEY GAVE US. AS WE PASSED OVER CGI, KANSAS CITY WAS TALKING TO SOMEONE ELSE. I ASSUMED THEY WOULD COME BACK TO US SOON TO ASK OUR INTENTIONS OR WE WOULD CALL THEM. HOWEVER, AT THIS POINT KANSAS CITY CALLED AND INSTEAD OF ASKING INTENTIONS, ASKED IF WE WERE CLRED BEYOND CGI, INDICATING WE WERE CONTINUING WITHOUT CLRNC. THERE WAS NO INDICATED CONFLICT OR EVASIVE ACTION. KANSAS CITY DID NOT INDICATE COMPLAINT ACTION. HOWEVER, WE SHOULD HAVE ESTABLISHED THE INTENDED CLRNC FOR AFTER CGI. I HAD ASSUMED CTR WAS MORE AWARE OF OUR INTENTIONS.

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.