Pilot of an small aircraft sel private aircraft failed to cancel IFR flight plan.

Attributes
ACN	253785
Time
Date	199310
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rbl airport : mcc
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 43 flight time total : 1820 flight time type : 914
ASRS Report	253785
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Problem arose on approach to rbl at 10000 ft and 150 KTS. Controller did not start descent until 10 NM from rbl even after I asked. As a result, I ended up over rbl airport at 6000 ft with airport elevation of 349 ft. Not familiar with area. Airport was directly under nose at all times. I could not see it, and asked for help. Finally saw it when told directly underneath. There was no traffic in area on radio or visually. I announced I was switching to rbl frequency. I had to lower gear, change gas, change propeller and announce to rbl and ask advisories. Controller claimed I should have announced cancellation of IFR and then said I was changing frequencys after he acknowledged. The controller filed a complaint. I think I have a complaint on a poorly handled approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SMA SEL PVT ACFT FAILED TO CANCEL IFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: PROB AROSE ON APCH TO RBL AT 10000 FT AND 150 KTS. CTLR DID NOT START DSCNT UNTIL 10 NM FROM RBL EVEN AFTER I ASKED. AS A RESULT, I ENDED UP OVER RBL ARPT AT 6000 FT WITH ARPT ELEVATION OF 349 FT. NOT FAMILIAR WITH AREA. ARPT WAS DIRECTLY UNDER NOSE AT ALL TIMES. I COULD NOT SEE IT, AND ASKED FOR HELP. FINALLY SAW IT WHEN TOLD DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH. THERE WAS NO TFC IN AREA ON RADIO OR VISUALLY. I ANNOUNCED I WAS SWITCHING TO RBL FREQ. I HAD TO LOWER GEAR, CHANGE GAS, CHANGE PROP AND ANNOUNCE TO RBL AND ASK ADVISORIES. CTLR CLAIMED I SHOULD HAVE ANNOUNCED CANCELLATION OF IFR AND THEN SAID I WAS CHANGING FREQS AFTER HE ACKNOWLEDGED. THE CTLR FILED A COMPLAINT. I THINK I HAVE A COMPLAINT ON A POORLY HANDLED APCH.

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.