Narrative:

I departed mce with a direct heading towards 3o1, climbed to 3000 ft. I noticed that a cloud bank had formed over and to the east of 3o1 with tops near 4000 ft. At this time, I requested an IFR descent to VFR. Stockton approach replied with a new squawk and a clearance to 1800 ft. I broke out at about 2000 ft, and 5 mi from airport and advised stockton. Stockton questioned if I wanted an approach or a visual. My reply was a visual. Stockton advised that there was no traffic observed between me and the airport, and I was cleared to change frequency. At no time did I cancel IFR or did stockton advise to squawk 1200 or advise to phone when on the ground. At about XA30 hours, local police department came by the hangar, looking to check and see if I was there. I advised officer to contact his department and advise that all was well. Later, I contacted FSS rancho murieta and discussed the above incident. I realize that I should have canceled IFR by radio with the controller before landing or phoned in to the FSS when on the ground. The controllers from stockton have worked very well with us in this remote area, and usually advise us to cancel or call in. He did not advise this time and I forgot to close.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE35 PLT FORGOT TO CANCEL HIS IFR FLT PLAN AFTER LNDG AT AN UNCTLED FIELD. SEARCH AND RESCUE WAS INITIATED.

Narrative: I DEPARTED MCE WITH A DIRECT HDG TOWARDS 3O1, CLBED TO 3000 FT. I NOTICED THAT A CLOUD BANK HAD FORMED OVER AND TO THE E OF 3O1 WITH TOPS NEAR 4000 FT. AT THIS TIME, I REQUESTED AN IFR DSCNT TO VFR. STOCKTON APCH REPLIED WITH A NEW SQUAWK AND A CLRNC TO 1800 FT. I BROKE OUT AT ABOUT 2000 FT, AND 5 MI FROM ARPT AND ADVISED STOCKTON. STOCKTON QUESTIONED IF I WANTED AN APCH OR A VISUAL. MY REPLY WAS A VISUAL. STOCKTON ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO TFC OBSERVED BTWN ME AND THE ARPT, AND I WAS CLRED TO CHANGE FREQ. AT NO TIME DID I CANCEL IFR OR DID STOCKTON ADVISE TO SQUAWK 1200 OR ADVISE TO PHONE WHEN ON THE GND. AT ABOUT XA30 HRS, LCL POLICE DEPT CAME BY THE HANGAR, LOOKING TO CHK AND SEE IF I WAS THERE. I ADVISED OFFICER TO CONTACT HIS DEPT AND ADVISE THAT ALL WAS WELL. LATER, I CONTACTED FSS RANCHO MURIETA AND DISCUSSED THE ABOVE INCIDENT. I REALIZE THAT I SHOULD HAVE CANCELED IFR BY RADIO WITH THE CTLR BEFORE LNDG OR PHONED IN TO THE FSS WHEN ON THE GND. THE CTLRS FROM STOCKTON HAVE WORKED VERY WELL WITH US IN THIS REMOTE AREA, AND USUALLY ADVISE US TO CANCEL OR CALL IN. HE DID NOT ADVISE THIS TIME AND I FORGOT TO CLOSE.

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.