Pilot cancels IFR a little too early while conducting RNAV approach to cgs.

Attributes
ACN	176825
Time
Date	199104
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cgs
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 500 msl bound upper : 680
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : dca
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other other
Route In Use	approach : circling enroute other
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 : 135 flight time total : 1590 flight time type : 185
ASRS Report	176825
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

After completing an IFR currency flight to sby, I updated WX with the FSS on the field and field for cgs, stating I would use the RNAV. The sby FSS took my plan and said there were no NOTAMS for cgs. I got my clearance from pxt, took off for cgs and commenced the approach with dca. I broke out at 700', 20' above the MDA, with 1 1/2 mi visibility. I cancelled the IFR flight plan with dca in the air, because I had the runway in sight. I felt my airspeed was a little fast for the field, so I circled to land to the left at midfield, staying well north of the residential area at the approach end of runway 33. My circle to land was clear of clouds, thus under the 1050' traffic pattern altitude at cgs. Since the ceiling was ragged, I was at 700' until base, when I descended to 500'. I know my altitude at break out was 700', as the radar altimeter was set for 680', the MDA, and it did not go off until base leg.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT CANCELS IFR A LITTLE TOO EARLY WHILE CONDUCTING RNAV APCH TO CGS.

Narrative: AFTER COMPLETING AN IFR CURRENCY FLT TO SBY, I UPDATED WX WITH THE FSS ON THE FIELD AND FIELD FOR CGS, STATING I WOULD USE THE RNAV. THE SBY FSS TOOK MY PLAN AND SAID THERE WERE NO NOTAMS FOR CGS. I GOT MY CLRNC FROM PXT, TOOK OFF FOR CGS AND COMMENCED THE APCH WITH DCA. I BROKE OUT AT 700', 20' ABOVE THE MDA, WITH 1 1/2 MI VISIBILITY. I CANCELLED THE IFR FLT PLAN WITH DCA IN THE AIR, BECAUSE I HAD THE RWY IN SIGHT. I FELT MY AIRSPD WAS A LITTLE FAST FOR THE FIELD, SO I CIRCLED TO LAND TO THE LEFT AT MIDFIELD, STAYING WELL N OF THE RESIDENTIAL AREA AT THE APCH END OF RWY 33. MY CIRCLE TO LAND WAS CLR OF CLOUDS, THUS UNDER THE 1050' TFC PATTERN ALT AT CGS. SINCE THE CEILING WAS RAGGED, I WAS AT 700' UNTIL BASE, WHEN I DSNDED TO 500'. I KNOW MY ALT AT BREAK OUT WAS 700', AS THE RADAR ALTIMETER WAS SET FOR 680', THE MDA, AND IT DID NOT GO OFF UNTIL BASE LEG.

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.