Pilot of a BE35 on VFR flight plan neglects to close the flight plan on landing.

Attributes
ACN	411720
Time
Date	199808
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bvy
State Reference	MA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Bonanza 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : parked
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 650 flight time type : 530
ASRS Report	411720
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Following a business meeting in grand rapids, mi, I flew home to beverly, ma. As the WX briefing indicated clear skies throughout the flight, I elected to fly VFR. Since the route of flight crossed southern ontario, a flight plan was required. I filed VFR flight plan with the briefer, then activated it once airborne with lansing radio. Although I often flight IFR, I seldom file VFR flight plans, feeling that radar advisories give a comparable level of safety along with other advantages. Consequently, I am rarely obligated to close a flight plan myself and simply forgot. It seems to me that a VFR/advisory flight plan with a guaranteed squawk code for the duration of the trip and automatic closure would be an improvement for pilots and ATC.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF A BE35 ON VFR FLT PLAN NEGLECTS TO CLOSE THE FLT PLAN ON LNDG.

Narrative: FOLLOWING A BUSINESS MEETING IN GRAND RAPIDS, MI, I FLEW HOME TO BEVERLY, MA. AS THE WX BRIEFING INDICATED CLR SKIES THROUGHOUT THE FLT, I ELECTED TO FLY VFR. SINCE THE RTE OF FLT CROSSED SOUTHERN ONTARIO, A FLT PLAN WAS REQUIRED. I FILED VFR FLT PLAN WITH THE BRIEFER, THEN ACTIVATED IT ONCE AIRBORNE WITH LANSING RADIO. ALTHOUGH I OFTEN FLT IFR, I SELDOM FILE VFR FLT PLANS, FEELING THAT RADAR ADVISORIES GIVE A COMPARABLE LEVEL OF SAFETY ALONG WITH OTHER ADVANTAGES. CONSEQUENTLY, I AM RARELY OBLIGATED TO CLOSE A FLT PLAN MYSELF AND SIMPLY FORGOT. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A VFR/ADVISORY FLT PLAN WITH A GUARANTEED SQUAWK CODE FOR THE DURATION OF THE TRIP AND AUTOMATIC CLOSURE WOULD BE AN IMPROVEMENT FOR PLTS AND ATC.

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.