Piper PA31 pilot contacts ARTCC for IFR pickup clearance and is given vector headings to avoid aircraft carrying skydivers, but never any reference to being given an IFR clearance.

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Attributes
ACN	539604
Time
Date	200202
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sik.airport
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	539604
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	other personnel other
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course flight crew : took evasive action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000 vertical : 8000
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Departed sik in good VFR conditions. Climbing through 2000 ft MSL, I tried contacting ZME on frequency 128.05 to no avail. Continued climbing to 4000 ft MSL. When I was able to communicate with ZME and received transponder code, ZME was unable to receive transponder for a few mins. When center advised me of radar contact, center told me I had traffic at 12 O'clock position, 5 mi at 12000 ft MSL. This traffic was carrying parachuters that (to my understanding) had not jumped yet. I didn't know when they were going to jump so I immediately started a 90 degree turn to the north, then asked center if that was ok. They advised me to turn south, which I did. ZME then advised me that the traffic was at 12 O'clock position and 3 mi. I advised ZME that I had turned to 180 degrees as they had requested. (I don't believe I ever receive an IFR clearance even though I flew IFR altitudes and received IFR handling). Corrective actions to prevent this from happening, in my opinion, would be better communication with ZME and better radar coverage in that area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIPER PA31 PLT CONTACTS ARTCC FOR IFR PICKUP CLRNC AND IS GIVEN VECTOR HDGS TO AVOID ACFT CARRYING SKYDIVERS, BUT NEVER ANY REF TO BEING GIVEN AN IFR CLRNC.

Narrative: DEPARTED SIK IN GOOD VFR CONDITIONS. CLBING THROUGH 2000 FT MSL, I TRIED CONTACTING ZME ON FREQ 128.05 TO NO AVAIL. CONTINUED CLBING TO 4000 FT MSL. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ZME AND RECEIVED XPONDER CODE, ZME WAS UNABLE TO RECEIVE XPONDER FOR A FEW MINS. WHEN CTR ADVISED ME OF RADAR CONTACT, CTR TOLD ME I HAD TFC AT 12 O'CLOCK POS, 5 MI AT 12000 FT MSL. THIS TFC WAS CARRYING PARACHUTERS THAT (TO MY UNDERSTANDING) HAD NOT JUMPED YET. I DIDN'T KNOW WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO JUMP SO I IMMEDIATELY STARTED A 90 DEG TURN TO THE N, THEN ASKED CTR IF THAT WAS OK. THEY ADVISED ME TO TURN S, WHICH I DID. ZME THEN ADVISED ME THAT THE TFC WAS AT 12 O'CLOCK POS AND 3 MI. I ADVISED ZME THAT I HAD TURNED TO 180 DEGS AS THEY HAD REQUESTED. (I DON'T BELIEVE I EVER RECEIVE AN IFR CLRNC EVEN THOUGH I FLEW IFR ALTS AND RECEIVED IFR HANDLING). CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING, IN MY OPINION, WOULD BE BETTER COM WITH ZME AND BETTER RADAR COVERAGE IN THAT AREA.

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.