C208 questions O90 controller about acknowledging IFR clearance cancellation.

Attributes
ACN	520259
Time
Date	200108
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sjc.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : o90.tracon artcc : zla.artcc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Caravan 1 208A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 1100 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	520259
Person 2
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Environmental Factor ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

I was on an IFR flight plan from mry to sjc. I was given a hold at gilro and elected to cancel IFR and proceed to the airport VFR. ATC then gave me a heading to fly. I told the controller 3 times I'd be unable to maintain VFR. The controller did not acknowledge. I proceeded on a heading that would permit VFR. When I asked the controller if he heard me, he said no, I was blocked. I heard from 3 pilots I was not blocked. Clearly, this controller was overworked.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C208 QUESTIONS O90 CTLR ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGING IFR CLRNC CANCELLATION.

Narrative: I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM MRY TO SJC. I WAS GIVEN A HOLD AT GILRO AND ELECTED TO CANCEL IFR AND PROCEED TO THE ARPT VFR. ATC THEN GAVE ME A HDG TO FLY. I TOLD THE CTLR 3 TIMES I'D BE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN VFR. THE CTLR DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE. I PROCEEDED ON A HDG THAT WOULD PERMIT VFR. WHEN I ASKED THE CTLR IF HE HEARD ME, HE SAID NO, I WAS BLOCKED. I HEARD FROM 3 PLTS I WAS NOT BLOCKED. CLRLY, THIS CTLR WAS OVERWORKED.

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.