Narrative:

I filed a VFR flight plan with abq flight service and departed carlsbad, NM, for flight to goode, airport, located near dgw airport, tx. Encountered WX en route and air filed IFR flight plan directly with ATC controller for the area in which I was flying. Proceeded to destination IFR and cancelled IFR flight plan with dfw approach as I entered goode airport traffic pattern. After landing, refueled and tied down airplane and while in airport operations paying fuel bill, ft worth flight service called. Said I was overdue on my VFR flight plan ETA and they were looking for me. After receiving stern lecture on necessity of cancelling flight plans, I apologized and hung up. My lack of thorough knowledge of VFR flight following procedures led to this omission. I honestly thought the IFR flight plan had replaced the VFR flight plan. I did not know that both could be in effect at the same time. This thought process was somewhat reinforced because when I air-filed IFR, the ATC controller wanted specific information on VFR flight plan (ie when with whom filed, time of filing, etc). This is not an excuse, it was my lack of knowledge of the VFR system that caused the problem. Next time, no more VFR flight plans. I'll use FSS WX briefings (I use duats) ATC flight following, or I'll file IFR. Reason, I am a professional pilot and in light of the current FAA enforcement attitude, I will not again unnecessarily expose myself to the system.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT ON VFR PLAN ENCOUNTERS WX AND AIR FILES IFR, BUT FORGETS TO CANCEL VFR PLAN.

Narrative: I FILED A VFR FLT PLAN WITH ABQ FLT SVC AND DEPARTED CARLSBAD, NM, FOR FLT TO GOODE, ARPT, LOCATED NEAR DGW ARPT, TX. ENCOUNTERED WX ENRTE AND AIR FILED IFR FLT PLAN DIRECTLY WITH ATC CTLR FOR THE AREA IN WHICH I WAS FLYING. PROCEEDED TO DEST IFR AND CANCELLED IFR FLT PLAN WITH DFW APCH AS I ENTERED GOODE ARPT TFC PATTERN. AFTER LNDG, REFUELED AND TIED DOWN AIRPLANE AND WHILE IN ARPT OPS PAYING FUEL BILL, FT WORTH FLT SVC CALLED. SAID I WAS OVERDUE ON MY VFR FLT PLAN ETA AND THEY WERE LOOKING FOR ME. AFTER RECEIVING STERN LECTURE ON NECESSITY OF CANCELLING FLT PLANS, I APOLOGIZED AND HUNG UP. MY LACK OF THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF VFR FLT FOLLOWING PROCS LED TO THIS OMISSION. I HONESTLY THOUGHT THE IFR FLT PLAN HAD REPLACED THE VFR FLT PLAN. I DID NOT KNOW THAT BOTH COULD BE IN EFFECT AT THE SAME TIME. THIS THOUGHT PROCESS WAS SOMEWHAT REINFORCED BECAUSE WHEN I AIR-FILED IFR, THE ATC CTLR WANTED SPECIFIC INFO ON VFR FLT PLAN (IE WHEN WITH WHOM FILED, TIME OF FILING, ETC). THIS IS NOT AN EXCUSE, IT WAS MY LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE VFR SYS THAT CAUSED THE PROB. NEXT TIME, NO MORE VFR FLT PLANS. I'LL USE FSS WX BRIEFINGS (I USE DUATS) ATC FLT FOLLOWING, OR I'LL FILE IFR. REASON, I AM A PROFESSIONAL PLT AND IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT FAA ENFORCEMENT ATTITUDE, I WILL NOT AGAIN UNNECESSARILY EXPOSE MYSELF TO THE SYS.

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.