C172 CFI pilot misunderstood clearance.

Attributes
ACN	436800
Time
Date	199905
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gvq.airport navaid : gvq.ils
Altitude	msl single value : 2400
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : roc.tracon
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 28
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : missed approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 80 flight time total : 4200 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	436800
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : executed missed approach flight crew : returned to original clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We had filed IFR from 9g0 round-trip to 9g0 via gvq, with an ILS approach to be conducted into gvq. After picking up our IFR clearance from buf approach, we were cleared as filed to gvq. After being cleared for the ILS approach at gvq, we were told to change to the local TA frequency. We were not given any special missed approach instructions, therefore I assumed that we would simply be executing the published missed and returning to 9g0. Upon recontacting roc approach on the missed approach, the controller admonished us to make sure 'in the future' that we advise them of our intentions to do a low approach and resume IFR back to our origin airport. Apparently he was under the impression that gvq was our final destination. He further pointed out that had there been real IFR conditions at gvq he might have had other aircraft conflicting with our missed approach. He also reminded us that our clearance limit was gvq, not 9g0. I was under the impression that 'cleared as filed' meant just that -- cleared for your entire route on the flight plan. When the first controller (at buf) gave us our clearance, it did not register that we were cleared only as far as gvq.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 CFI PLT MISUNDERSTOOD CLRNC.

Narrative: WE HAD FILED IFR FROM 9G0 ROUND-TRIP TO 9G0 VIA GVQ, WITH AN ILS APCH TO BE CONDUCTED INTO GVQ. AFTER PICKING UP OUR IFR CLRNC FROM BUF APCH, WE WERE CLRED AS FILED TO GVQ. AFTER BEING CLRED FOR THE ILS APCH AT GVQ, WE WERE TOLD TO CHANGE TO THE LCL TA FREQ. WE WERE NOT GIVEN ANY SPECIAL MISSED APCH INSTRUCTIONS, THEREFORE I ASSUMED THAT WE WOULD SIMPLY BE EXECUTING THE PUBLISHED MISSED AND RETURNING TO 9G0. UPON RECONTACTING ROC APCH ON THE MISSED APCH, THE CTLR ADMONISHED US TO MAKE SURE 'IN THE FUTURE' THAT WE ADVISE THEM OF OUR INTENTIONS TO DO A LOW APCH AND RESUME IFR BACK TO OUR ORIGIN ARPT. APPARENTLY HE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT GVQ WAS OUR FINAL DEST. HE FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT HAD THERE BEEN REAL IFR CONDITIONS AT GVQ HE MIGHT HAVE HAD OTHER ACFT CONFLICTING WITH OUR MISSED APCH. HE ALSO REMINDED US THAT OUR CLRNC LIMIT WAS GVQ, NOT 9G0. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT 'CLRED AS FILED' MEANT JUST THAT -- CLRED FOR YOUR ENTIRE RTE ON THE FLT PLAN. WHEN THE FIRST CTLR (AT BUF) GAVE US OUR CLRNC, IT DID NOT REGISTER THAT WE WERE CLRED ONLY AS FAR AS GVQ.

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.