Forgot to close flight plan

Ok, I did it today, first time ever, after ferrying my newly purchased
152 home. I realized about an hour after landing that I'd forgotten. I
called the FSS and they'd informed me that they'd called the tower who
had confirmed my landing and thus the plan had been closed. I felt like
a complete ass.

How big a deal is this? I'm afraid to ask anybody at my FBO. I'm not
gonna get a letter am I??

In a previous article, Paul Folbrecht said:
How big a deal is this? I'm afraid to ask anybody at my FBO. I'm not
gonna get a letter am I??

Not a big deal. I've done it twice and never heard another word about it.


--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
Progress (n.): The process through which Usenet has evolved from
smart people in front of dumb terminals to dumb people in front
of smart terminals. --

It's no big deal at all. Obviously you shouldn't do it but
nothing bad will happen, and you'll remember next time.
Maybe the time after that too, but eventually you'll forget
again.

Only time I ever did it (I rarely use VFR flight plans)
was at Furnace Creek. When I remembered, they'd sent
the local representative of the law to the airport.

John

"Paul Folbrecht" wrote in message
...
Ok, I did it today, first time ever, after ferrying my newly purchased
152 home. I realized about an hour after landing that I'd forgotten. I
called the FSS and they'd informed me that they'd called the tower who
had confirmed my landing and thus the plan had been closed. I felt like
a complete ass.

How big a deal is this? I'm afraid to ask anybody at my FBO. I'm not
gonna get a letter am I??

"Paul Folbrecht" wrote in message
...

Ok, I did it today, first time ever, after ferrying my newly purchased
152 home. I realized about an hour after landing that I'd forgotten. I
called the FSS and they'd informed me that they'd called the tower who
had confirmed my landing and thus the plan had been closed. I felt like
a complete ass.

How big a deal is this? I'm afraid to ask anybody at my FBO. I'm not
gonna get a letter am I??


It's not that big a deal. If you're overdue and your flight plan
destination is a controlled field the first thing FSS does is call the
tower. If the tower says you arrived the search ends right there.

Thanks to all who responded thus far. Let's end this thread.

(Guess the cosmetic surgery and name change this afternoon were a bit of
overkill. Oh well.)

Paul Folbrecht wrote:

Ok, I did it today, first time ever, after ferrying my newly purchased
152 home. I realized about an hour after landing that I'd forgotten. I
called the FSS and they'd informed me that they'd called the tower who
had confirmed my landing and thus the plan had been closed. I felt like
a complete ass.

How big a deal is this? I'm afraid to ask anybody at my FBO. I'm not
gonna get a letter am I??

The first step when a flight plan is not closed (overdue) is a
communications search. It's easy.. check the tower on the destination field.
If no tower or tower is closed, check the FBO or local approach control to
see if they remember you.
They may even call the phone number you leave on the flight plan. I give my
last name and "on file with name of FBO".

If that fails, a ramp check, the local police will be dispatched to check
every aircraft on the ramp for your tail number. If it's in a closed hanger
that makes it tougher. Meanwhile a query may be made to the ELT monitoring
agencies for any thing along your route of flight.

Of course, now your N-number is "remembered" by the FSS. It is possible that
if a pattern develops you may be visited by the local FSDO. If a search is
launched that may turn out to be unwarranted, you may receive a bill for it
as a reminder to close the flight plan.

Normally a pilot remembers after the once, you did call in an hour late,
they normally give you 30 min before they called the tower.

BT

"Paul Folbrecht" wrote in message
...
Ok, I did it today, first time ever, after ferrying my newly purchased
152 home. I realized about an hour after landing that I'd forgotten. I
called the FSS and they'd informed me that they'd called the tower who
had confirmed my landing and thus the plan had been closed. I felt like
a complete ass.

How big a deal is this? I'm afraid to ask anybody at my FBO. I'm not
gonna get a letter am I??

im in australia but same things happen.
ive somehow forgotten twice...both times they rang the number on the
flight plan (flight school) and figured out i had forgotten. i now have
a piece of paper with "Close Flightplan" written on it that i stick
onto my steering wheel before i go flying. it has saved me from
forgetting about 4 times...


--
kat
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted via OziPilots Online [ http://www.OziPilotsOnline.com.au ]
- A website for Australian Pilots regardless of when, why, or what they fly -

i now have
a piece of paper with "Close Flightplan" written on it that i stick
onto my steering wheel

Change wris****ch from left hand to right

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: -- put Cubdriver in subject line!

see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com
and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com

In a previous article, kat said:
flight plan (flight school) and figured out i had forgotten. i now have
a piece of paper with "Close Flightplan" written on it that i stick
onto my steering wheel before i go flying. it has saved me from
forgetting about 4 times...

I file IFR now. That way somebody else closes it.


--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
The average banker could benefit tremendously from a good kick to
the head at precisely-timed intervals
-- Dan Holdsworth

"Paul Folbrecht" wrote in message
...
Thanks to all who responded thus far. Let's end this thread.

(Guess the cosmetic surgery and name change this afternoon were a bit of
overkill. Oh well.)


Are you running for President?