A C172 pilot filed IFR for practice approaches and was told maintain VFR but after the first approac...

Narrative:

After filing an IFR flight plan; I departed and called approach in the air. I was instructed to 'maintain VFR.' after being vectored at 1500'; the controller put me on the localizer for the ILS xx. I was instructed to 'fly the published missed.' after going missed; I was instructed to hold over over the departure fix at 2500' or above. This altitude had me popping in and out of the clouds. After one lap in the hold; I was given a vector of 270 for the localizer yy approach at my next filed airport. I was still in and out of the clouds at this point; and after a few vectors for final; the controller gave a traffic call. At this point; I informed him we were in IMC conditions. He responded; telling me that I had been instructed to remain VFR. He then cleared me for the localizer yy; after which I canceled this clearance; and asked for vectors to the GPS-a at our next destination. The controller and I were at a misunderstanding about whether I was cleared or not. To my understanding; clearing us for the hold at missed approach point and the altitude of 2500' was a clearance that allowed us to be IMC as we were on an IFR flight plan. Until the hold we had maintained VFR as instructed; but that was before the missed approach. It is not an established practice to question the controller when entering the clouds when IFR; so this is where the breakdown of communication began. After speaking to CFI; he suggested I mention that there are or may be some new controllers or trainees in the sector.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 Pilot filed IFR for practice approaches and was told maintain VFR but after the first approach and missed approach went IMC thinking the IFR clearance continued while the Controller understood the IFR clearance terminated with the missed approach.

Narrative: After filing an IFR flight plan; I departed and called Approach in the air. I was instructed to 'Maintain VFR.' After being vectored at 1500'; the Controller put me on the localizer for the ILS XX. I was instructed to 'Fly the published missed.' After going missed; I was instructed to hold over over the departure fix at 2500' or above. This altitude had me popping in and out of the clouds. After one lap in the hold; I was given a vector of 270 for the Localizer YY approach at my next filed airport. I was still in and out of the clouds at this point; and after a few vectors for final; the Controller gave a traffic call. At this point; I informed him we were in IMC conditions. He responded; telling me that I had been instructed to remain VFR. He then cleared me for the LOC YY; after which I canceled this clearance; and asked for vectors to the GPS-A at our next destination. The Controller and I were at a misunderstanding about whether I was cleared or not. To my understanding; clearing us for the hold at missed approach point and the altitude of 2500' was a clearance that allowed us to be IMC as we were on an IFR flight plan. Until the hold we had maintained VFR as instructed; but that was before the missed approach. It is not an established practice to question the Controller when entering the clouds when IFR; so this is where the breakdown of communication began. After speaking to CFI; he suggested I mention that there are or may be some new controllers or trainees in the sector.

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	969736
Time
Date	201109
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.TRACON
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Approach Descent Cruise Initial Climb
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Private Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30 Flight Crew Total 235 Flight Crew Type 100
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural Clearance Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC

A C172 pilot filed IFR for practice approaches and was told maintain VFR but after the first approach and missed approach went IMC thinking the IFR clearance continued while the controller understood the IFR clearance terminated with the missed approach.