IFR pilot enroute at 6000 interpreted controller's clearance; 'cleared to ZZZ airport'; as simply a ...

Narrative:

Departed VFR; received an IFR clearance in the air from approach to fly as filed and climb to 6000. While enroute; I was told to change to center frequency. I checked in with center at 6000 ft. Approximately XA25 I was told by center I was cleared to my destination and at XA31 I was told by center that I was cleared to the airport. About 10 minutes later center asked me if I was on course and that he had told me twice to go to my destination. I said that I was flying the route as filed and would like to continue as filed. The center controller cleared me to continue on my filed route. After I was sure the frequency was not congested I called center back and told him that I was continuing my filed route because I never heard him mention that I was cleared direct to the airport. I only heard him say I was cleared to the airport and assumed he was just clearing me to my destination. In hindsight I might have questioned if he meant for me to go direct from my present position to the airport. Because I never heard the words 'cleared direct' or 'cleared present position direct' I did not have a reason to assume he meant for me to go away from my original clearance direct to my destination.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IFR pilot enroute at 6000 interpreted Controller's clearance; 'cleared to ZZZ airport'; as simply a confirmation of his/her destination; rather that a direct to the airport change in routing.

Narrative: Departed VFR; received an IFR clearance in the air from Approach to fly as filed and climb to 6000. While enroute; I was told to change to Center frequency. I checked in with Center at 6000 FT. Approximately XA25 I was told by Center I was cleared to my destination and at XA31 I was told by Center that I was cleared to the Airport. About 10 minutes later Center asked me if I was on course and that he had told me twice to go to my destination. I said that I was flying the route as filed and would like to continue as filed. The Center Controller cleared me to continue on my filed route. After I was sure the frequency was not congested I called Center back and told him that I was continuing my filed route because I never heard him mention that I was cleared direct to the airport. I only heard him say I was cleared to the airport and assumed he was just clearing me to my destination. In hindsight I might have questioned if he meant for me to go direct from my present position to the airport. Because I never heard the words 'cleared direct' or 'cleared present position direct' I did not have a reason to assume he meant for me to go away from my original clearance direct to my destination.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	836953
Time
Date	200905
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Helicopter
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Airway VXXX
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 70 Flight Crew Total 5500 Flight Crew Type 600
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

IFR pilot enroute at 6000 interpreted controller's clearance; 'cleared to ZZZ airport'; as simply a confirmation of his/her destination; rather that a direct to the airport change in routing.