Small transport pilot cancels IFR on sighting ground. Then enters IMC.

Attributes
ACN	225547
Time
Date	199211
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tvi
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 900 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : vld
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	225547
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While approaching tvi from aby -- at approximately 10 NM out, I was descending through 2000 ft and saw the ground. I cancelled IFR with vld approach but because IFR at 900 ft for about 5 mi until I saw field and circled to land on runway 22 -- I should not have cancelled IFR but continued to follow approach controller's directions. I thought I saw tvi but I was in error.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT PLT CANCELS IFR ON SIGHTING GND. THEN ENTERS IMC.

Narrative: WHILE APCHING TVI FROM ABY -- AT APPROX 10 NM OUT, I WAS DSNDING THROUGH 2000 FT AND SAW THE GND. I CANCELLED IFR WITH VLD APCH BUT BECAUSE IFR AT 900 FT FOR ABOUT 5 MI UNTIL I SAW FIELD AND CIRCLED TO LAND ON RWY 22 -- I SHOULD NOT HAVE CANCELLED IFR BUT CONTINUED TO FOLLOW APCH CTLR'S DIRECTIONS. I THOUGHT I SAW TVI BUT I WAS IN ERROR.

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.