Narrative:

Arriving in the destination area (ssi), ASOS reported WX as ceiling 1200 ft overcast, visibility 8 mi, etc -- basically, MVFR. I was about 50 NM away when I copied the ASOS and requested from ZJX the GPS approach to runway 4 at ssi. I was advised to request that from the next controller (also ZJX) and did so. After some mins, I was instructed to 'proceed to the IAF' for the GPS. I replied 'that would be cudbu.' I was cleared to 1800 ft. I turned to cudbu and descended. No further communication was received from ZJX and I proceeded to and beyond cudbu. I was fascinated with my new IFR GPS and trying to ensure that I operated it correctly. I noted hearing the plane ahead of me cancel his IFR just prior to reaching cudbu. Immediately after turning onto the initial approach segment (which is about a 15 mi final), I realized that I'd heard nothing from center since 'proceed toward the initial fix....' I advised center that I was inside cudbu. Center replied that I was 'cleared center frequency...change to advisory frequency is....' and then she cut herself off and said 'let's make this right' (or words to that effect) and cleared me for the GPS 4 approach. The initial directive to proceed toward the initial fix was vague, I was not told to expect that approach and it seems I must have literally and mentally gotten lost in her coverage. Center radar coverage is spotty below about 2500 ft here and may have in fact dropped below her coverage area. I should have been more proactive about reporting my position along the way to cudbu and certainly asked for the approach clearance. Failing that, I should have entered a hold (standard) at cudbu and reported that I'd entered a hold prior to proceeding. Working with the new GPS was a distraction on my end.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE33 ATP PLT PROCEEDS PAST HIS INITIAL FIX CLRNC PRIOR TO RECEIVING ANY APCH CLRNC FROM ZJX FOR A GPS RWY 4 APCH TO SSI, GA.

Narrative: ARRIVING IN THE DEST AREA (SSI), ASOS RPTED WX AS CEILING 1200 FT OVCST, VISIBILITY 8 MI, ETC -- BASICALLY, MVFR. I WAS ABOUT 50 NM AWAY WHEN I COPIED THE ASOS AND REQUESTED FROM ZJX THE GPS APCH TO RWY 4 AT SSI. I WAS ADVISED TO REQUEST THAT FROM THE NEXT CTLR (ALSO ZJX) AND DID SO. AFTER SOME MINS, I WAS INSTRUCTED TO 'PROCEED TO THE IAF' FOR THE GPS. I REPLIED 'THAT WOULD BE CUDBU.' I WAS CLRED TO 1800 FT. I TURNED TO CUDBU AND DSNDED. NO FURTHER COM WAS RECEIVED FROM ZJX AND I PROCEEDED TO AND BEYOND CUDBU. I WAS FASCINATED WITH MY NEW IFR GPS AND TRYING TO ENSURE THAT I OPERATED IT CORRECTLY. I NOTED HEARING THE PLANE AHEAD OF ME CANCEL HIS IFR JUST PRIOR TO REACHING CUDBU. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TURNING ONTO THE INITIAL APCH SEGMENT (WHICH IS ABOUT A 15 MI FINAL), I REALIZED THAT I'D HEARD NOTHING FROM CTR SINCE 'PROCEED TOWARD THE INITIAL FIX....' I ADVISED CTR THAT I WAS INSIDE CUDBU. CTR REPLIED THAT I WAS 'CLRED CTR FREQ...CHANGE TO ADVISORY FREQ IS....' AND THEN SHE CUT HERSELF OFF AND SAID 'LET'S MAKE THIS RIGHT' (OR WORDS TO THAT EFFECT) AND CLRED ME FOR THE GPS 4 APCH. THE INITIAL DIRECTIVE TO PROCEED TOWARD THE INITIAL FIX WAS VAGUE, I WAS NOT TOLD TO EXPECT THAT APCH AND IT SEEMS I MUST HAVE LITERALLY AND MENTALLY GOTTEN LOST IN HER COVERAGE. CTR RADAR COVERAGE IS SPOTTY BELOW ABOUT 2500 FT HERE AND MAY HAVE IN FACT DROPPED BELOW HER COVERAGE AREA. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PROACTIVE ABOUT RPTING MY POS ALONG THE WAY TO CUDBU AND CERTAINLY ASKED FOR THE APCH CLRNC. FAILING THAT, I SHOULD HAVE ENTERED A HOLD (STANDARD) AT CUDBU AND RPTED THAT I'D ENTERED A HOLD PRIOR TO PROCEEDING. WORKING WITH THE NEW GPS WAS A DISTR ON MY END.

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.