Narrative:

I took off out of maf (IFR clearance/VFR conditions) with transponder in off position. ATC (maf) did not catch it. Clearance was direct tuscola VOR direct glenrose VOR, glenrose 5 arrival, 11000 ft. I was not handed off to center. 35 mi outside of glenrose, I start questioning why they are not stepping me down. That is when I realized I was not talking to center. I tried 3-4 times to make contact with regional on #1 communication (no response), then I made contact on #2 communication and told them my position. Through 3 different frequency changes I finally get the right controller. By this time I am just a few mi outside glenrose at 11000 ft. At that contact they informed me that I was not in the system and issued me an IFR clearance. When on the ground I was asked to contact ATC.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ATX ACFT DEPARTS MAF WITHOUT HIS XPONDER ON AND ATC FORGETS TO XFER CTL TO THE ZFW CTR.

Narrative: I TOOK OFF OUT OF MAF (IFR CLRNC/VFR CONDITIONS) WITH XPONDER IN OFF POS. ATC (MAF) DID NOT CATCH IT. CLRNC WAS DIRECT TUSCOLA VOR DIRECT GLENROSE VOR, GLENROSE 5 ARR, 11000 FT. I WAS NOT HANDED OFF TO CTR. 35 MI OUTSIDE OF GLENROSE, I START QUESTIONING WHY THEY ARE NOT STEPPING ME DOWN. THAT IS WHEN I REALIZED I WAS NOT TALKING TO CTR. I TRIED 3-4 TIMES TO MAKE CONTACT WITH REGIONAL ON #1 COM (NO RESPONSE), THEN I MADE CONTACT ON #2 COM AND TOLD THEM MY POS. THROUGH 3 DIFFERENT FREQ CHANGES I FINALLY GET THE RIGHT CTLR. BY THIS TIME I AM JUST A FEW MI OUTSIDE GLENROSE AT 11000 FT. AT THAT CONTACT THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WAS NOT IN THE SYS AND ISSUED ME AN IFR CLRNC. WHEN ON THE GND I WAS ASKED TO CONTACT ATC.

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.