GA pilot attempts to activate IFR clearance between pbi and zfp.

Attributes
ACN	441178
Time
Date	199906
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : zfp.vor
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl single value : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zma.artcc tracon : mygf.tracon tracon : pbi.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 930 flight time type : 95
ASRS Report	441178
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other controllerb other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance FAA ATC Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

VFR flight plan filed to pbi with intentions to continue to mygf on VFR plan (change destination) or file IFR 'point in space' from pbi VOR to mygf (ultimate destination). In-flight WX brief revealed IFR conditions to mygf. Requested air file from palm beach approach control. Told to file with FSS, so did as described above (pbi VOR to mygf). Miami FSS informed controller of flight plan and requested he cancel VFR flight plan when IFR clearance received, which he acknowledged affirmatively. Short time later, was instructed to 'turn towards freeport...,' so did. Direct to mygf VOR (zpf) queried controller about IFR clearance status. Informed center (ZMA), didn't have it yet. Continued to mygf. WX conditions mixed. Pilot was able to maintain VFR at lower altitudes (2500-3500 ft MSL) and avoid IMC. Queried pbi approach control twice more about clearance. No clearance was ever given. Contacted mygf approach control for instructions, handed off to mygr tower, landed safely VFR. Filed international VFR for return to united states on mia radio (126.90 MHZ). Advised search and rescue had been activated. Explained above to FSS. FSS said '...no problem....' was told by FSS specialist I 'should have filed with mia radio....' informed her '...for the record, I did file with mia radio.' VFR plan changed to IFR to pbi, VFR plan canceled with mia radio (126.90) and acknowledged subsequent severe WX at pbi caused all aircraft to hold. Pilot elected to divert to fpr with ZMA approval.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA PLT ATTEMPTS TO ACTIVATE IFR CLRNC BTWN PBI AND ZFP.

Narrative: VFR FLT PLAN FILED TO PBI WITH INTENTIONS TO CONTINUE TO MYGF ON VFR PLAN (CHANGE DEST) OR FILE IFR 'POINT IN SPACE' FROM PBI VOR TO MYGF (ULTIMATE DEST). INFLT WX BRIEF REVEALED IFR CONDITIONS TO MYGF. REQUESTED AIR FILE FROM PALM BEACH APCH CTL. TOLD TO FILE WITH FSS, SO DID AS DESCRIBED ABOVE (PBI VOR TO MYGF). MIAMI FSS INFORMED CTLR OF FLT PLAN AND REQUESTED HE CANCEL VFR FLT PLAN WHEN IFR CLRNC RECEIVED, WHICH HE ACKNOWLEDGED AFFIRMATIVELY. SHORT TIME LATER, WAS INSTRUCTED TO 'TURN TOWARDS FREEPORT...,' SO DID. DIRECT TO MYGF VOR (ZPF) QUERIED CTLR ABOUT IFR CLRNC STATUS. INFORMED CTR (ZMA), DIDN'T HAVE IT YET. CONTINUED TO MYGF. WX CONDITIONS MIXED. PLT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN VFR AT LOWER ALTS (2500-3500 FT MSL) AND AVOID IMC. QUERIED PBI APCH CTL TWICE MORE ABOUT CLRNC. NO CLRNC WAS EVER GIVEN. CONTACTED MYGF APCH CTL FOR INSTRUCTIONS, HANDED OFF TO MYGR TWR, LANDED SAFELY VFR. FILED INTL VFR FOR RETURN TO UNITED STATES ON MIA RADIO (126.90 MHZ). ADVISED SEARCH AND RESCUE HAD BEEN ACTIVATED. EXPLAINED ABOVE TO FSS. FSS SAID '...NO PROB....' WAS TOLD BY FSS SPECIALIST I 'SHOULD HAVE FILED WITH MIA RADIO....' INFORMED HER '...FOR THE RECORD, I DID FILE WITH MIA RADIO.' VFR PLAN CHANGED TO IFR TO PBI, VFR PLAN CANCELED WITH MIA RADIO (126.90) AND ACKNOWLEDGED SUBSEQUENT SEVERE WX AT PBI CAUSED ALL ACFT TO HOLD. PLT ELECTED TO DIVERT TO FPR WITH ZMA APPROVAL.

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.