Pilot of a cpr turboprop IFR in class a airspace descended to a VFR altitude without canceling IFR.

Attributes
ACN	320540
Time
Date	199511
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bna
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 16500 msl bound upper : 18000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 11900 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	320540
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flying at FL180, requested VFR and descend to 16500 ft. Controller didn't understand I wanted to cancel IFR. After some confusion, cancelled IFR and continued. Should have used the word 'cancel IFR' first.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF A CPR TURBOPROP IFR IN CLASS A AIRSPACE DSNDED TO A VFR ALT WITHOUT CANCELING IFR.

Narrative: FLYING AT FL180, REQUESTED VFR AND DSND TO 16500 FT. CTLR DIDN'T UNDERSTAND I WANTED TO CANCEL IFR. AFTER SOME CONFUSION, CANCELLED IFR AND CONTINUED. SHOULD HAVE USED THE WORD 'CANCEL IFR' FIRST.

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.