Narrative:

I was on IFR flight plan from aln to cty for fuel stop. I was communicating with ZJX on the arrival to cty. I was cleared for visual approach and released to communicate on local CTAF at 12 mi north. Approach to airport was VFR and normal with 2 other aircraft approaching, one behind me 8 mi and one to the south of the airport. Current active runway was runway 31. I entered left downwind to runway and at midfield found my gear to be inoperative. Because of other approaching traffic I communicated a gear problem to unicom and that I would be extending my downwind until other traffic lands. I was 8 mi south of the field on extended downwind when I turned back for the airport. I then had corrected the gear problem with 4 mi remaining to cty airport. I then landed with no further incidence. Then found the airport facilities to be shut down permanently and no telephones in order. With all that had taken place, I failed to cancel my IFR. I took off VFR to closest airport, gainsville, fl, for fuel. Upon landing which was 30 mins since my release for visual approach at cty, I was notified to call ZJX and talk with center supervisor which I complied. He indicated his frustration and did not want my explanation. I obviously feel bad about tying up airspace but under the additional aircraft and stress load of a gear malfunction I made the mistake of canceling my IFR flight plan.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIPER PA30 PLT FAILED TO CLOSE HIS IFR FLT PLAN DUE TO DISTRACTIONS OF A LNDG GEAR EXTENSION PROB PRIOR TO LNDG AND THE FACT THAT THE ARPT FACILITY SVCS WERE SHUT DOWN. HE THEN FLEW VFR TO ANOTHER NEAR ARPT FOR FUEL.

Narrative: I WAS ON IFR FLT PLAN FROM ALN TO CTY FOR FUEL STOP. I WAS COMMUNICATING WITH ZJX ON THE ARR TO CTY. I WAS CLRED FOR VISUAL APCH AND RELEASED TO COMMUNICATE ON LCL CTAF AT 12 MI N. APCH TO ARPT WAS VFR AND NORMAL WITH 2 OTHER ACFT APCHING, ONE BEHIND ME 8 MI AND ONE TO THE S OF THE ARPT. CURRENT ACTIVE RWY WAS RWY 31. I ENTERED L DOWNWIND TO RWY AND AT MIDFIELD FOUND MY GEAR TO BE INOP. BECAUSE OF OTHER APCHING TFC I COMMUNICATED A GEAR PROB TO UNICOM AND THAT I WOULD BE EXTENDING MY DOWNWIND UNTIL OTHER TFC LANDS. I WAS 8 MI S OF THE FIELD ON EXTENDED DOWNWIND WHEN I TURNED BACK FOR THE ARPT. I THEN HAD CORRECTED THE GEAR PROB WITH 4 MI REMAINING TO CTY ARPT. I THEN LANDED WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENCE. THEN FOUND THE ARPT FACILITIES TO BE SHUT DOWN PERMANENTLY AND NO TELEPHONES IN ORDER. WITH ALL THAT HAD TAKEN PLACE, I FAILED TO CANCEL MY IFR. I TOOK OFF VFR TO CLOSEST ARPT, GAINSVILLE, FL, FOR FUEL. UPON LNDG WHICH WAS 30 MINS SINCE MY RELEASE FOR VISUAL APCH AT CTY, I WAS NOTIFIED TO CALL ZJX AND TALK WITH CTR SUPVR WHICH I COMPLIED. HE INDICATED HIS FRUSTRATION AND DID NOT WANT MY EXPLANATION. I OBVIOUSLY FEEL BAD ABOUT TYING UP AIRSPACE BUT UNDER THE ADDITIONAL ACFT AND STRESS LOAD OF A GEAR MALFUNCTION I MADE THE MISTAKE OF CANCELING MY IFR FLT PLAN.

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.