Small aircraft fails to reset transponder to 1200 when canceling IFR flight plan.

Attributes
ACN	301440
Time
Date	199504
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : atl airport : pdk
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 49 flight time total : 337
ASRS Report	301440
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I informed atl approach I wanted to cancel IFR and proceed to pdk VFR. Approach canceled IFR and may or may not have told me to squawk VFR (I can't remember). I flew directly to pdk, calling the tower at 10 NM. Pdk tower asked me if I was on approach or VFR. I reported VFR. I followed tower landing instructions and, on taxiing, discovered I was still on squawk XXXX when I switched my transponder to standby. No evasive action was required. Contributing factors: possible absence of reminder to squawk 1200 by approach controller, familiarity with landing at pdk, item is not covered by a checklist. Suggest controllers emphasize their command to 'squawk VFR.' they 'always' say this. Hearing it becomes so routine that pilots don't hear it. Perhaps using different phraseology at random ('squawk VFR,' 'squawk 1200,' 'change transponder to 1200') would reduce routine and avoid 'non-hearing.'

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA FAILS TO RESET XPONDER TO 1200 WHEN CANCELING IFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: I INFORMED ATL APCH I WANTED TO CANCEL IFR AND PROCEED TO PDK VFR. APCH CANCELED IFR AND MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE TOLD ME TO SQUAWK VFR (I CAN'T REMEMBER). I FLEW DIRECTLY TO PDK, CALLING THE TWR AT 10 NM. PDK TWR ASKED ME IF I WAS ON APCH OR VFR. I RPTED VFR. I FOLLOWED TWR LNDG INSTRUCTIONS AND, ON TAXIING, DISCOVERED I WAS STILL ON SQUAWK XXXX WHEN I SWITCHED MY XPONDER TO STANDBY. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS REQUIRED. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: POSSIBLE ABSENCE OF REMINDER TO SQUAWK 1200 BY APCH CTLR, FAMILIARITY WITH LNDG AT PDK, ITEM IS NOT COVERED BY A CHKLIST. SUGGEST CTLRS EMPHASIZE THEIR COMMAND TO 'SQUAWK VFR.' THEY 'ALWAYS' SAY THIS. HEARING IT BECOMES SO ROUTINE THAT PLTS DON'T HEAR IT. PERHAPS USING DIFFERENT PHRASEOLOGY AT RANDOM ('SQUAWK VFR,' 'SQUAWK 1200,' 'CHANGE XPONDER TO 1200') WOULD REDUCE ROUTINE AND AVOID 'NON-HEARING.'

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.