Narrative:

Departed ZZZ at approximately XA00Z for a VFR flight GPS 'direct to ZZZ1.' pilot requested 'flight following' from ATC and was issued a discrete transponder code. During the progression of the flight there were several frequency changes as flight progressed through palm beach controllers while in their airspace. Controller requested a change in transponder code and advised that 'at that altitude (2500 ft) radar coverage would only extend for another 4-6 mins, and that aircraft would have to climb to 3500 ft or 4500 ft to continue radar coverage.' pilot advised controller that we would remain at 2500 ft to remain VFR and that we would continue to ZZZ1 at that altitude VFR. Controller then said that 'we will try to provide coverage to you.' pilot attempted contact on another with no response. Pilot tried several more attempts with no response. At this time the flight had progressed south of miami to the edge of the everglades. Flight continued to ZZZ1. After arrival, pilot was contacted by a friend and advised the ATC had called ZZZ and inquired of the aircraft ownership and who the pilot was 'because he had busted all the TCA's.' shortly thereafter, the FAA called ZZZ1 to talk to the pilot. The FAA admonished pilot for 'not canceling his VFR flight plan.' after a lengthy discussion, pilot was informed that he did 'not bust any TCA's' and by requesting flight following a VFR flight plan is opened by ATC, and that unless pilot and ATC acknowledge a return to '1200,' the VFR flight plan has to be closed by phoning FSS. Pilot advised FAA that contact attempts were made on assigned frequency, with only 50% response by ATC. ATC acknowledges that 'coverage in the florida keys is sporadic and only successful 50% of the time.' ATC said that 'the conversation was private' and they wanted everyone to be safe. Pilot is filing report because he is uncertain of supervisor's position on situation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT NEGLECTS TO CANCEL VFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: DEPARTED ZZZ AT APPROX XA00Z FOR A VFR FLT GPS 'DIRECT TO ZZZ1.' PLT REQUESTED 'FLT FOLLOWING' FROM ATC AND WAS ISSUED A DISCRETE XPONDER CODE. DURING THE PROGRESSION OF THE FLT THERE WERE SEVERAL FREQ CHANGES AS FLT PROGRESSED THROUGH PALM BEACH CTLRS WHILE IN THEIR AIRSPACE. CTLR REQUESTED A CHANGE IN XPONDER CODE AND ADVISED THAT 'AT THAT ALT (2500 FT) RADAR COVERAGE WOULD ONLY EXTEND FOR ANOTHER 4-6 MINS, AND THAT ACFT WOULD HAVE TO CLB TO 3500 FT OR 4500 FT TO CONTINUE RADAR COVERAGE.' PLT ADVISED CTLR THAT WE WOULD REMAIN AT 2500 FT TO REMAIN VFR AND THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO ZZZ1 AT THAT ALT VFR. CTLR THEN SAID THAT 'WE WILL TRY TO PROVIDE COVERAGE TO YOU.' PLT ATTEMPTED CONTACT ON ANOTHER WITH NO RESPONSE. PLT TRIED SEVERAL MORE ATTEMPTS WITH NO RESPONSE. AT THIS TIME THE FLT HAD PROGRESSED S OF MIAMI TO THE EDGE OF THE EVERGLADES. FLT CONTINUED TO ZZZ1. AFTER ARR, PLT WAS CONTACTED BY A FRIEND AND ADVISED THE ATC HAD CALLED ZZZ AND INQUIRED OF THE ACFT OWNERSHIP AND WHO THE PLT WAS 'BECAUSE HE HAD BUSTED ALL THE TCA'S.' SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE FAA CALLED ZZZ1 TO TALK TO THE PLT. THE FAA ADMONISHED PLT FOR 'NOT CANCELING HIS VFR FLT PLAN.' AFTER A LENGTHY DISCUSSION, PLT WAS INFORMED THAT HE DID 'NOT BUST ANY TCA'S' AND BY REQUESTING FLT FOLLOWING A VFR FLT PLAN IS OPENED BY ATC, AND THAT UNLESS PLT AND ATC ACKNOWLEDGE A RETURN TO '1200,' THE VFR FLT PLAN HAS TO BE CLOSED BY PHONING FSS. PLT ADVISED FAA THAT CONTACT ATTEMPTS WERE MADE ON ASSIGNED FREQ, WITH ONLY 50% RESPONSE BY ATC. ATC ACKNOWLEDGES THAT 'COVERAGE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS IS SPORADIC AND ONLY SUCCESSFUL 50% OF THE TIME.' ATC SAID THAT 'THE CONVERSATION WAS PVT' AND THEY WANTED EVERYONE TO BE SAFE. PLT IS FILING RPT BECAUSE HE IS UNCERTAIN OF SUPVR'S POS ON SIT.

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.