Narrative:

I was on a flight from fond du lac, wi, to old bridge (3n6) nj. I was VFR on top at 7500 ft and had been trying to obtain an IFR clearance, since the latest WX I obtained indicated that an IFR approach would be necessary at 3n6. Over the course of about 45 mins, I had requested the clearance on 2 occasions. My initial request was made about 50 mi west of williamsport. About 10 mi west of allentown, it became necessary for me to commence a climb in order to remain VFR. At about an altitude of 8300 ft, the controller from whom I had been receiving advisories, inquired as to the reason for my climb or what altitude I was going to. I told him it was necessary in order to remain VFR while awaiting my IFR clearance. He then told me I was cleared to 3n6 direct and to maintain 8000 ft. I understood that to be my IFR clearance and read it back accordingly. After a handoff to ZNY, I was told to descend to 6500 ft. I then inquired as to the reason for a VFR altitude. At this point, I was IMC. It appears that ZNY did not have me as an IFR operation. After some confusion, I was given further descent clrncs and handed off to mcguire for the approach into 3n6.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C310 PLT RESOLVES AN IFR CLRNC REQUEST WITH ZNY DUE TO WX. SUBSEQUENT FLT PROGRESS STRIP AMENDMENTS DO NOT SHOW CORRECTED CHANGE TO IFR, RESULTING IN AMENDED CLRNCS.

Narrative: I WAS ON A FLT FROM FOND DU LAC, WI, TO OLD BRIDGE (3N6) NJ. I WAS VFR ON TOP AT 7500 FT AND HAD BEEN TRYING TO OBTAIN AN IFR CLRNC, SINCE THE LATEST WX I OBTAINED INDICATED THAT AN IFR APCH WOULD BE NECESSARY AT 3N6. OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT 45 MINS, I HAD REQUESTED THE CLRNC ON 2 OCCASIONS. MY INITIAL REQUEST WAS MADE ABOUT 50 MI W OF WILLIAMSPORT. ABOUT 10 MI W OF ALLENTOWN, IT BECAME NECESSARY FOR ME TO COMMENCE A CLB IN ORDER TO REMAIN VFR. AT ABOUT AN ALT OF 8300 FT, THE CTLR FROM WHOM I HAD BEEN RECEIVING ADVISORIES, INQUIRED AS TO THE REASON FOR MY CLB OR WHAT ALT I WAS GOING TO. I TOLD HIM IT WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO REMAIN VFR WHILE AWAITING MY IFR CLRNC. HE THEN TOLD ME I WAS CLRED TO 3N6 DIRECT AND TO MAINTAIN 8000 FT. I UNDERSTOOD THAT TO BE MY IFR CLRNC AND READ IT BACK ACCORDINGLY. AFTER A HDOF TO ZNY, I WAS TOLD TO DSND TO 6500 FT. I THEN INQUIRED AS TO THE REASON FOR A VFR ALT. AT THIS POINT, I WAS IMC. IT APPEARS THAT ZNY DID NOT HAVE ME AS AN IFR OP. AFTER SOME CONFUSION, I WAS GIVEN FURTHER DSCNT CLRNCS AND HANDED OFF TO MCGUIRE FOR THE APCH INTO 3N6.

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.