Narrative:

I was en route to fdk; md. I was being vectored by potomac approach for the ILS runway 23. I intercepted the localizer approximately 15 mi out. About 12 mi out; potomac approach reported our position; cleared us for the approach; stated; 'radar service is terminated; switch to advisory frequency; report canceling IFR in the air or on the ground as soon as possible.' my copilot acknowledged and switched to 122.725. He made 3 radio calls on the 122.725 at 10 mi; 5 mi; at 1 mi stating we were on the ILS; the airport; our call sign and the distance. Just before we broke out; an unidented C182 called on the frequency stating he was departing fdk runway 23 IFR. My copilot stated again we were less than 1/2 mi out and the other pilot did not acknowledge. As soon as we broke out; we could see the other aircraft beginning its takeoff roll. I slowed our aircraft down and landed behind the other aircraft right after it left the runway. After we cleared the runway; we contacted potomac approach on 126.900 stating we were on the ground and canceling IFR; as well as there was another aircraft taking off. They seemed surprised to hear from us; but not very concerned about the other aircraft. It appears either of 2 things happened: either the other aircraft took off without an IFR clearance; or approach forgot about us and issued 2 aircraft IFR clrncs in the same airspace without radar coverage. Since the ceilings were close to minimums; if I went missed approach; I would have been heading the same direction as the other aircraft in IMC without any idea where he was; a dangerous situation to say the least.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C182 ON SHORT FINAL CONDUCTING IFR ILS RWY 23 APCH TO FDK IS SURPRISED TO HEAR AND OBSERVE ANOTHER C182 DEP FROM RWY 23; REPORTEDLY ON AN IFR CLRNC.

Narrative: I WAS ENRTE TO FDK; MD. I WAS BEING VECTORED BY POTOMAC APCH FOR THE ILS RWY 23. I INTERCEPTED THE LOC APPROX 15 MI OUT. ABOUT 12 MI OUT; POTOMAC APCH RPTED OUR POS; CLRED US FOR THE APCH; STATED; 'RADAR SVC IS TERMINATED; SWITCH TO ADVISORY FREQ; RPT CANCELING IFR IN THE AIR OR ON THE GND ASAP.' MY COPLT ACKNOWLEDGED AND SWITCHED TO 122.725. HE MADE 3 RADIO CALLS ON THE 122.725 AT 10 MI; 5 MI; AT 1 MI STATING WE WERE ON THE ILS; THE ARPT; OUR CALL SIGN AND THE DISTANCE. JUST BEFORE WE BROKE OUT; AN UNIDENTED C182 CALLED ON THE FREQ STATING HE WAS DEPARTING FDK RWY 23 IFR. MY COPLT STATED AGAIN WE WERE LESS THAN 1/2 MI OUT AND THE OTHER PLT DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE. AS SOON AS WE BROKE OUT; WE COULD SEE THE OTHER ACFT BEGINNING ITS TKOF ROLL. I SLOWED OUR ACFT DOWN AND LANDED BEHIND THE OTHER ACFT RIGHT AFTER IT LEFT THE RWY. AFTER WE CLRED THE RWY; WE CONTACTED POTOMAC APCH ON 126.900 STATING WE WERE ON THE GND AND CANCELING IFR; AS WELL AS THERE WAS ANOTHER ACFT TAKING OFF. THEY SEEMED SURPRISED TO HEAR FROM US; BUT NOT VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER ACFT. IT APPEARS EITHER OF 2 THINGS HAPPENED: EITHER THE OTHER ACFT TOOK OFF WITHOUT AN IFR CLRNC; OR APCH FORGOT ABOUT US AND ISSUED 2 ACFT IFR CLRNCS IN THE SAME AIRSPACE WITHOUT RADAR COVERAGE. SINCE THE CEILINGS WERE CLOSE TO MINIMUMS; IF I WENT MISSED APCH; I WOULD HAVE BEEN HEADING THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE OTHER ACFT IN IMC WITHOUT ANY IDEA WHERE HE WAS; A DANGEROUS SITUATION TO SAY THE LEAST.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.