<< >> NASA ASRS Report 581045, May 2003

GA pilot advised by pct controller of transponder procedure error prior to landing anp of changing from a discrete beacon code to code 1200 when terminated from pct.

Attributes
ACN	581045
Time
Date	200305
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : anp.airport
State Reference	MD
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pct.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	controller military : 4 flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 480 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	581045
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I reported anp airport (uncontrolled) in sight to pct approach and cancelled IFR clearance. I squawked VFR (1200) on transponder, switched to CTAF frequency, entered anp pattern and landed. (I previously departed bwi and flew directly to anp always in contact with pct TRACON for the flight.) later, when I called pct TRACON (telephone) for the IFR clearance back to bwi, the controller informed me that I have to keep the assigned squawk code until I land, even if I cancel IFR in the air. It would be helpful if the approach controller would remind the pilot to 'maintain assigned squawk' when the pilot cancels IFR within the ADIZ.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA PLT ADVISED BY PCT CTLR OF XPONDER PROC ERROR PRIOR TO LNDG ANP OF CHANGING FROM A DISCRETE BEACON CODE TO CODE 1200 WHEN TERMINATED FROM PCT.

Narrative: I RPTED ANP ARPT (UNCTLED) IN SIGHT TO PCT APCH AND CANCELLED IFR CLRNC. I SQUAWKED VFR (1200) ON XPONDER, SWITCHED TO CTAF FREQUENCY, ENTERED ANP PATTERN AND LANDED. (I PREVIOUSLY DEPARTED BWI AND FLEW DIRECTLY TO ANP ALWAYS IN CONTACT WITH PCT TRACON FOR THE FLT.) LATER, WHEN I CALLED PCT TRACON (TELEPHONE) FOR THE IFR CLRNC BACK TO BWI, THE CTLR INFORMED ME THAT I HAVE TO KEEP THE ASSIGNED SQUAWK CODE UNTIL I LAND, EVEN IF I CANCEL IFR IN THE AIR. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THE APCH CTLR WOULD REMIND THE PLT TO 'MAINTAIN ASSIGNED SQUAWK' WHEN THE PLT CANCELS IFR WITHIN THE ADIZ.

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.