PA30 ATP on IFR flight plan lost communications with ATC and proceeded to land at cdh.

Attributes
ACN	693314
Time
Date	200604
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cdh.airport
State Reference	AR
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-30 Twin Comanche
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 21900 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	693314
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

IFR flight plan level 4000 ft direct cdh; ZME. Lost all communication. Changed to 7600 on transponder. ZME attempted to contact me. I followed lost communication procedures and landed in cdh. Cancelled flight plan with FSS. Observations: after transponder set to 7600 there was never an attempt by center to advise me that they received my 7600 code. They never suggested I identify if I heard them; although I idented several times in the blind. On letdown; in holding for approach; I overheard center telling pilot my altitude and location relative to cdh. Pilot stated I would be IFR and should not. ATC did not correct the statement. Called FSS on my cell to request they immediately advise center of my status. They hung up after I stated my situation. I had to call them back to see if they had reached center. I then canceled my IFR due to the fact I was 1 mi final.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA30 ATP ON IFR FLT PLAN LOST COMS WITH ATC AND PROCEEDED TO LAND AT CDH.

Narrative: IFR FLT PLAN LEVEL 4000 FT DIRECT CDH; ZME. LOST ALL COM. CHANGED TO 7600 ON XPONDER. ZME ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT ME. I FOLLOWED LOST COM PROCS AND LANDED IN CDH. CANCELLED FLT PLAN WITH FSS. OBSERVATIONS: AFTER XPONDER SET TO 7600 THERE WAS NEVER AN ATTEMPT BY CTR TO ADVISE ME THAT THEY RECEIVED MY 7600 CODE. THEY NEVER SUGGESTED I IDENT IF I HEARD THEM; ALTHOUGH I IDENTED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE BLIND. ON LETDOWN; IN HOLDING FOR APCH; I OVERHEARD CTR TELLING PLT MY ALT AND LOCATION RELATIVE TO CDH. PLT STATED I WOULD BE IFR AND SHOULD NOT. ATC DID NOT CORRECT THE STATEMENT. CALLED FSS ON MY CELL TO REQUEST THEY IMMEDIATELY ADVISE CTR OF MY STATUS. THEY HUNG UP AFTER I STATED MY SITUATION. I HAD TO CALL THEM BACK TO SEE IF THEY HAD REACHED CTR. I THEN CANCELED MY IFR DUE TO THE FACT I WAS 1 MI FINAL.

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.