Narrative:

On departure off anc to sitka on IFR flight plan, clearance included 'anc 2 departure.' on climb out 500 ft AGL, I noticed flickering warning light for left pneumatic pump. I was also distraction by passenger questions. Since it was cavu day, I naved as I felt like, on a route I had not taken before. ATC called and said 'where are you doing, and are you on an IFR plan?' I said 'affirmative.' 'then turn 190 degrees.' I complied and realized then my mistake of not turning 190 degrees on climb out. Then because I was confused as the VOR radial for en route came up, I turned to intercept and made a call to announce my intention. This angered the controller who asked me to call him when I had a moment. I did so and he angrily said 'don't go off on your own headings on an IFR flight plan.' I said 'sorry, my mistake.' he then flew me through the victor airway, and doubled me back to intercept just to prove he could. I really had no intention to bust my clearance or anger a controller. In total VFR, I have no doubt we were safe, and in an actual IFR day I would have been more focused. But I need that focus at all times -- especially on a route I had not done before.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA31 PLT ELECTED TO GO SIGHTSEEING ON DEP FROM ANC, WHILE ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, AND IS DISMAYED THAT TRACON TAKES EXCEPTION.

Narrative: ON DEP OFF ANC TO SITKA ON IFR FLT PLAN, CLRNC INCLUDED 'ANC 2 DEP.' ON CLBOUT 500 FT AGL, I NOTICED FLICKERING WARNING LIGHT FOR L PNEUMATIC PUMP. I WAS ALSO DISTR BY PAX QUESTIONS. SINCE IT WAS CAVU DAY, I NAVED AS I FELT LIKE, ON A RTE I HAD NOT TAKEN BEFORE. ATC CALLED AND SAID 'WHERE ARE YOU DOING, AND ARE YOU ON AN IFR PLAN?' I SAID 'AFFIRMATIVE.' 'THEN TURN 190 DEGS.' I COMPLIED AND REALIZED THEN MY MISTAKE OF NOT TURNING 190 DEGS ON CLBOUT. THEN BECAUSE I WAS CONFUSED AS THE VOR RADIAL FOR ENRTE CAME UP, I TURNED TO INTERCEPT AND MADE A CALL TO ANNOUNCE MY INTENTION. THIS ANGERED THE CTLR WHO ASKED ME TO CALL HIM WHEN I HAD A MOMENT. I DID SO AND HE ANGRILY SAID 'DON'T GO OFF ON YOUR OWN HDGS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN.' I SAID 'SORRY, MY MISTAKE.' HE THEN FLEW ME THROUGH THE VICTOR AIRWAY, AND DOUBLED ME BACK TO INTERCEPT JUST TO PROVE HE COULD. I REALLY HAD NO INTENTION TO BUST MY CLRNC OR ANGER A CTLR. IN TOTAL VFR, I HAVE NO DOUBT WE WERE SAFE, AND IN AN ACTUAL IFR DAY I WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FOCUSED. BUT I NEED THAT FOCUS AT ALL TIMES -- ESPECIALLY ON A RTE I HAD NOT DONE BEFORE.

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.