A C172 pilot is given an approval by tower to fly an instrument departure from sts, but after contac...

Attributes
ACN	521700
Time
Date	200108
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : sts.vor
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : sts.tower artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude landing : missed approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision departure sid : santa rosa 5
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 207 flight time type : 90
ASRS Report	521700
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

While in VFR conditions, I had received a pop-up IFR clearance from ZOA for the ILS runway 32 approach into sts. VFR conditions prevailed in the area, with sts covered with coastal stratus. Sts ATIS reported visibility 1 mi in mist and 100 ft overcast. I was vectored to the final approach course and proceeded inbound on the approach. I told ZOA I wished to fly the santa rosa 5 departure upon my missed approach. ZOA replied with 'roger.' I was soon told to contact sts tower, which I did. I then told sts tower that I wished to fly the santa rosa 5 departure in lieu of the published missed approach procedure. Tower replied with 'approved.' I completed the ILS runway 32 approach, with the airport in sight at about 700 ft MSL. I continued to the published decision ht and began the santa rosa 5 departure. Tower handed me off to ZOA, and I reported I was on the santa rosa 5 departure. Center told me I was required to get approval from center prior to executing the santa rosa 5 departure in lieu of the published missed approach. At the time, I assumed center had approved my request, when they replied with 'roger.' my mind set was reinforced when tower told me my request was 'approved.' center also told me that it wasn't a problem this time, but in the future, first obtain an approval for such requests. I now realize that 'roger' only means the controller received my transmission and it is not a yes or no answer or approval to proceed as requested. My error was unintentional and in the future, I will clarify with the controller when I have a similar request or situation or question about a procedure or clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 PLT IS GIVEN AN APPROVAL BY TWR TO FLY AN INST DEP FROM STS, BUT AFTER CONTACTING CTR, THE PLT WAS TOLD HE WAS NOT APPROVED.

Narrative: WHILE IN VFR CONDITIONS, I HAD RECEIVED A POP-UP IFR CLRNC FROM ZOA FOR THE ILS RWY 32 APCH INTO STS. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED IN THE AREA, WITH STS COVERED WITH COASTAL STRATUS. STS ATIS RPTED VISIBILITY 1 MI IN MIST AND 100 FT OVCST. I WAS VECTORED TO THE FINAL APCH COURSE AND PROCEEDED INBOUND ON THE APCH. I TOLD ZOA I WISHED TO FLY THE SANTA ROSA 5 DEP UPON MY MISSED APCH. ZOA REPLIED WITH 'ROGER.' I WAS SOON TOLD TO CONTACT STS TWR, WHICH I DID. I THEN TOLD STS TWR THAT I WISHED TO FLY THE SANTA ROSA 5 DEP IN LIEU OF THE PUBLISHED MISSED APCH PROC. TWR REPLIED WITH 'APPROVED.' I COMPLETED THE ILS RWY 32 APCH, WITH THE ARPT IN SIGHT AT ABOUT 700 FT MSL. I CONTINUED TO THE PUBLISHED DECISION HT AND BEGAN THE SANTA ROSA 5 DEP. TWR HANDED ME OFF TO ZOA, AND I RPTED I WAS ON THE SANTA ROSA 5 DEP. CTR TOLD ME I WAS REQUIRED TO GET APPROVAL FROM CTR PRIOR TO EXECUTING THE SANTA ROSA 5 DEP IN LIEU OF THE PUBLISHED MISSED APCH. AT THE TIME, I ASSUMED CTR HAD APPROVED MY REQUEST, WHEN THEY REPLIED WITH 'ROGER.' MY MIND SET WAS REINFORCED WHEN TWR TOLD ME MY REQUEST WAS 'APPROVED.' CTR ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT WASN'T A PROB THIS TIME, BUT IN THE FUTURE, FIRST OBTAIN AN APPROVAL FOR SUCH REQUESTS. I NOW REALIZE THAT 'ROGER' ONLY MEANS THE CTLR RECEIVED MY XMISSION AND IT IS NOT A YES OR NO ANSWER OR APPROVAL TO PROCEED AS REQUESTED. MY ERROR WAS UNINTENTIONAL AND IN THE FUTURE, I WILL CLARIFY WITH THE CTLR WHEN I HAVE A SIMILAR REQUEST OR SIT OR QUESTION ABOUT A PROC OR CLRNC.

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.

A C172 pilot is given an approval by tower to fly an instrument departure from sts, but after contacting center, the pilot was told he was not approved.