Narrative:

Opened VFR flight plan with mmv-FSS airborne. Closed VFR flight plan with mmv-FSS airborne approximately 41 mins later. Departed and opened VFR flight plan with mmv-FSS airborne. Arrived block and closed VFR flight plan with mmv-FSS by telephone. When I called mmv-FSS to close the second flight plan; the specialist taking my call informed me that this was 'the second time today.' 'for me?' I asked. He replied to the effect that he didn't know whether it was me or not; but that it was the second time today for this n-number. This means that even though I closed my first flight plan with mmv-FSS while still airborne; the closure was never properly recorded; and a search was initiated. Since neither of the telephone numbers I included in my flight plan (home phone and cell phone) was ever called; I can only assume that they 'found' me both times by calling the local FBO first. The easy conclusion to reach in this matter is that I was stupid for not closing my second flight plan on time; and shame on me for that. But there's more to this: normally; I go IFR. In 27 yrs; I've never had a problem closing an IFR flight plan. Since the flight plan and the clearance are so closely tied together; the pressure to open the airspace keeps the need to close an IFR flight plan in the forefront of my mind when I arrive at an uncontrolled field; and; of course; ATC closes it for me at controled fields.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA34 PLT EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING VFR FLT PLAN CLOSURE PROCS AND FSS FAILURE TO RESPOND AND DOCUMENT SAME.

Narrative: OPENED VFR FLT PLAN WITH MMV-FSS AIRBORNE. CLOSED VFR FLT PLAN WITH MMV-FSS AIRBORNE APPROX 41 MINS LATER. DEPARTED AND OPENED VFR FLT PLAN WITH MMV-FSS AIRBORNE. ARRIVED BLOCK AND CLOSED VFR FLT PLAN WITH MMV-FSS BY TELEPHONE. WHEN I CALLED MMV-FSS TO CLOSE THE SECOND FLT PLAN; THE SPECIALIST TAKING MY CALL INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS 'THE SECOND TIME TODAY.' 'FOR ME?' I ASKED. HE REPLIED TO THE EFFECT THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER IT WAS ME OR NOT; BUT THAT IT WAS THE SECOND TIME TODAY FOR THIS N-NUMBER. THIS MEANS THAT EVEN THOUGH I CLOSED MY FIRST FLT PLAN WITH MMV-FSS WHILE STILL AIRBORNE; THE CLOSURE WAS NEVER PROPERLY RECORDED; AND A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. SINCE NEITHER OF THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS I INCLUDED IN MY FLT PLAN (HOME PHONE AND CELL PHONE) WAS EVER CALLED; I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT THEY 'FOUND' ME BOTH TIMES BY CALLING THE LCL FBO FIRST. THE EASY CONCLUSION TO REACH IN THIS MATTER IS THAT I WAS STUPID FOR NOT CLOSING MY SECOND FLT PLAN ON TIME; AND SHAME ON ME FOR THAT. BUT THERE'S MORE TO THIS: NORMALLY; I GO IFR. IN 27 YRS; I'VE NEVER HAD A PROB CLOSING AN IFR FLT PLAN. SINCE THE FLT PLAN AND THE CLRNC ARE SO CLOSELY TIED TOGETHER; THE PRESSURE TO OPEN THE AIRSPACE KEEPS THE NEED TO CLOSE AN IFR FLT PLAN IN THE FOREFRONT OF MY MIND WHEN I ARRIVE AT AN UNCTLED FIELD; AND; OF COURSE; ATC CLOSES IT FOR ME AT CTLED FIELDS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.