Small aircraft X VFR in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	195586
Time
Date	199111
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : opf
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1900 msl bound upper : 1900
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mia tower : opf
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	195586
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Inter Facility Coordination Failure other

Narrative:

Small aircraft X departed hwo contacted mia approach 128.6, requested practice ILS 9L at opf. I believe I also requested IFR at that time. Received clearance with squawk, altitude and heading. On radar vector to turn in toward ILS controller stated cleared 1500 ft to 1900 ft. The initial approach altitude is 1900 ft. I reported climbing to 1900 ft. After receiving final vector toward ILS, and hearing 'cleared for il 9. Opa locka' I was handed off to opf ATCT on 120.7. Opf immediately gave me traffic at 3 mi and 12 O'clock, report traffic in sight. I replied that I was in IMC. Opf tower stated that I did not have an IFR flight plan or clearance. Opf directed me to turn left 360 degrees and contact miami approach. At no time did any controller tell me to maintain VFR. I contacted miami approach and completed several other approachs. Recommend: that the use of the word 'practice approach' be stopped. Practice approachs should have same requirements as normal IFR approachs (IFR, plane equipped and pilot qualified). Any instrument approach should be under IFR rules only. During this whole situation, until I contacted opf ATCT, I thought that the clearance I received was an IFR clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA X VFR IN IMC.

Narrative: SMA X DEPARTED HWO CONTACTED MIA APCH 128.6, REQUESTED PRACTICE ILS 9L AT OPF. I BELIEVE I ALSO REQUESTED IFR AT THAT TIME. RECEIVED CLRNC WITH SQUAWK, ALT AND HDG. ON RADAR VECTOR TO TURN IN TOWARD ILS CTLR STATED CLRED 1500 FT TO 1900 FT. THE INITIAL APCH ALT IS 1900 FT. I RPTED CLBING TO 1900 FT. AFTER RECEIVING FINAL VECTOR TOWARD ILS, AND HEARING 'CLRED FOR IL 9. OPA LOCKA' I WAS HANDED OFF TO OPF ATCT ON 120.7. OPF IMMEDIATELY GAVE ME TFC AT 3 MI AND 12 O'CLOCK, RPT TFC IN SIGHT. I REPLIED THAT I WAS IN IMC. OPF TWR STATED THAT I DID NOT HAVE AN IFR FLT PLAN OR CLRNC. OPF DIRECTED ME TO TURN L 360 DEGS AND CONTACT MIAMI APCH. AT NO TIME DID ANY CTLR TELL ME TO MAINTAIN VFR. I CONTACTED MIAMI APCH AND COMPLETED SEVERAL OTHER APCHS. RECOMMEND: THAT THE USE OF THE WORD 'PRACTICE APCH' BE STOPPED. PRACTICE APCHS SHOULD HAVE SAME REQUIREMENTS AS NORMAL IFR APCHS (IFR, PLANE EQUIPPED AND PLT QUALIFIED). ANY INST APCH SHOULD BE UNDER IFR RULES ONLY. DURING THIS WHOLE SITUATION, UNTIL I CONTACTED OPF ATCT, I THOUGHT THAT THE CLRNC I RECEIVED WAS AN IFR CLRNC.

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.