Cancelled IFR within TCA.

Attributes
ACN	95225
Time
Date	198809
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : myf
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : san
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	95525
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Ambiguous
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Possible catch 22 situation where aircraft on IFR flight plan descended to 5000' and cleared for visual approach to airport. Pilot cancelled IFR clearance (VFR conditions) while at 5000' and proceeded to descend VFR to airport. Problem in that TCA includes 5000' but ends at 4800'. When IFR is cancelled question is does aircraft need another ATC clearance for the 200' left between 4800 and 5000'? This condition would only exist for brief periods of time, but could be significant if there was heavy VFR/TCA traffic. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter states it is unusual to hold traffic at 5000' in this area. Concerned that he would be held at altitude until over VOR and then it would be difficult to get down. Because of time element involved he chose to cancel IFR. Wonders why controller would allow him to cancel if not legal.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CANCELLED IFR WITHIN TCA.

Narrative: POSSIBLE CATCH 22 SITUATION WHERE ACFT ON IFR FLT PLAN DSNDED TO 5000' AND CLRED FOR VISUAL APCH TO ARPT. PLT CANCELLED IFR CLRNC (VFR CONDITIONS) WHILE AT 5000' AND PROCEEDED TO DSND VFR TO ARPT. PROB IN THAT TCA INCLUDES 5000' BUT ENDS AT 4800'. WHEN IFR IS CANCELLED QUESTION IS DOES ACFT NEED ANOTHER ATC CLRNC FOR THE 200' LEFT BTWN 4800 AND 5000'? THIS CONDITION WOULD ONLY EXIST FOR BRIEF PERIODS OF TIME, BUT COULD BE SIGNIFICANT IF THERE WAS HVY VFR/TCA TFC. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR STATES IT IS UNUSUAL TO HOLD TFC AT 5000' IN THIS AREA. CONCERNED THAT HE WOULD BE HELD AT ALT UNTIL OVER VOR AND THEN IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO GET DOWN. BECAUSE OF TIME ELEMENT INVOLVED HE CHOSE TO CANCEL IFR. WONDERS WHY CTLR WOULD ALLOW HIM TO CANCEL IF NOT LEGAL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.