Small aircraft pilot leaves assigned altitude in arsa after cancelling IFR.

Attributes
ACN	159478
Time
Date	199010
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : omn airport : 34j
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 800 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dab
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 400 flight time type : 230
ASRS Report	159478
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Dab WX was 900' scattered. I requested an IFR clearance to VFR conditions. I was told to climb and maintain 2000' MSL by ATC and report reaching VFR. I reported reaching VFR at 2000' MSL and cancelled my IFR clearance. ATC advised me to resume own navigation. I acknowledged and turned toward 34J and began a descent down to 800' MSL. Departure control asked my altitude and reported that I should not have descended from my assigned altitude. I said I was told to resume my own navigation and I believed I could descend into 34J. ATC said I have no descent clearance and should not have descended. Our conversation ended and radar service was terminated approximately 2 mins later.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT LEAVES ASSIGNED ALT IN ARSA AFTER CANCELLING IFR.

Narrative: DAB WX WAS 900' SCATTERED. I REQUESTED AN IFR CLRNC TO VFR CONDITIONS. I WAS TOLD TO CLB AND MAINTAIN 2000' MSL BY ATC AND RPT REACHING VFR. I RPTED REACHING VFR AT 2000' MSL AND CANCELLED MY IFR CLRNC. ATC ADVISED ME TO RESUME OWN NAV. I ACKNOWLEDGED AND TURNED TOWARD 34J AND BEGAN A DSNT DOWN TO 800' MSL. DEP CTL ASKED MY ALT AND RPTED THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE DSNDED FROM MY ASSIGNED ALT. I SAID I WAS TOLD TO RESUME MY OWN NAV AND I BELIEVED I COULD DSND INTO 34J. ATC SAID I HAVE NO DSNT CLRNC AND SHOULD NOT HAVE DSNDED. OUR CONVERSATION ENDED AND RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED APPROX 2 MINS LATER.

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.