Narrative:

I was coming back from a flight to tlh to ocf. It was VFR on top of a scattered layer, which turned to a broken layer when I reached the ocf area. Since I was on flight following with ZJX already, I asked for an ILS into ocf knowing it would be safer than trying to squeeze through a hole with other VFR traffic below the broken layer. ZJX agreed and gave vectors and an altitude (2200 ft). I assumed I was IFR at that point and descended into the broken layer on the vectored heading. Eventually I was vectored onto the localizer, told to maintain 2000 ft until established and cleared for the runway 36 ILS at ocf. At this time I broke out, saw the runway and called ZJX to cancel IFR. At this point another voice came on from ZJX telling me I was never on an IFR clearance and that they assumed I had just wanted a practice approach in VFR conditions. I replied I had assumed I was under IFR. They replied 'no' and I said 'ok' and proceeded to complete the landing at ocf. Maybe instead of just asking if they could work me in for the ILS at ocf I should have been more specific and asked for an IFR clearance into ocf instead. I feel ZJX should also have been more specific and clarified their thinking that I was just asking for a VFR vector for a practice ILS. At any rate, all turned out ok, but next time I'll make sure there's no confusion on my part and ATC's as well.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR PC12 PLT WITH ZJX, ABOVE BROKEN LAYER, REQUESTS IFR CLRNC TO OCF RESULTING IN CONFUSION REGARDING WHEN AND IF IFR CLRNC WAS ACTIVATED.

Narrative: I WAS COMING BACK FROM A FLT TO TLH TO OCF. IT WAS VFR ON TOP OF A SCATTERED LAYER, WHICH TURNED TO A BROKEN LAYER WHEN I REACHED THE OCF AREA. SINCE I WAS ON FLT FOLLOWING WITH ZJX ALREADY, I ASKED FOR AN ILS INTO OCF KNOWING IT WOULD BE SAFER THAN TRYING TO SQUEEZE THROUGH A HOLE WITH OTHER VFR TFC BELOW THE BROKEN LAYER. ZJX AGREED AND GAVE VECTORS AND AN ALT (2200 FT). I ASSUMED I WAS IFR AT THAT POINT AND DSNDED INTO THE BROKEN LAYER ON THE VECTORED HDG. EVENTUALLY I WAS VECTORED ONTO THE LOC, TOLD TO MAINTAIN 2000 FT UNTIL ESTABLISHED AND CLRED FOR THE RWY 36 ILS AT OCF. AT THIS TIME I BROKE OUT, SAW THE RWY AND CALLED ZJX TO CANCEL IFR. AT THIS POINT ANOTHER VOICE CAME ON FROM ZJX TELLING ME I WAS NEVER ON AN IFR CLRNC AND THAT THEY ASSUMED I HAD JUST WANTED A PRACTICE APCH IN VFR CONDITIONS. I REPLIED I HAD ASSUMED I WAS UNDER IFR. THEY REPLIED 'NO' AND I SAID 'OK' AND PROCEEDED TO COMPLETE THE LNDG AT OCF. MAYBE INSTEAD OF JUST ASKING IF THEY COULD WORK ME IN FOR THE ILS AT OCF I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SPECIFIC AND ASKED FOR AN IFR CLRNC INTO OCF INSTEAD. I FEEL ZJX SHOULD ALSO HAVE BEEN MORE SPECIFIC AND CLARIFIED THEIR THINKING THAT I WAS JUST ASKING FOR A VFR VECTOR FOR A PRACTICE ILS. AT ANY RATE, ALL TURNED OUT OK, BUT NEXT TIME I'LL MAKE SURE THERE'S NO CONFUSION ON MY PART AND ATC'S AS WELL.

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.