Flight Crew Private
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Human Factors
I was flying a solo cross country and had flight following for a majority of the flight. During the flight I refueled and continued. It was a windy day and the flight was obviously taking longer than expected. I attempted to contact FSS to amend my flight plan for an extra hour to give me time to get back on three different frequencies. I attempted to call up three FSS; two of which were recommended by Center; and couldn't pick up the signal for any of them in the area and neither could a fellow student flying about 15-20 NM miles ahead of me. We let control know that we couldn't pick up any of the frequencies. He said it wasn't a good area. I requested for him to amend my flight plan for an hour more. [The other pilot] asked if he could have the same thing I requested. Center answered and said he would pass on that info and have it amended. When I landed as soon as I taxied back and shut off the plane I immediately called 1-800-WX-BRIEF and requested to close my flight plan. Without letting me know that anything was wrong; the briefer closed the flight plan. As I walked into the airport lobby; 30 minutes later I was notified that search and rescue had been sent out for me. I called back 1-800-WX-BRIEF and asked if my flight was closed. The briefer said it had and didn't mention anything about search and rescue. I then asked if my flight had been amended for an extra hour and was notified that the information was never passed on for my plane from the Center controller as I was told it would be.
DA40 pilot reported that ATC had not passed on their request to extend a flight plan and that search and rescue may have been dispatched.