Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 36; Flight Crew Total 178; Flight Crew Type 18
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Procedure
I filed an IFR flight plan over the phone with flight services using the TEC route SMON7 from SMO to ZZZ. Upon arriving to the airport; I called SMO ground to receive my IFR clearance. SMO ground gave me the clearance: 'Cleared to ZZZ; on departure; fly runway heading; at the LAX 315 radial; turn right 250. Radar vectors; Seal Beach. Direct. 3000; expect 5000 5 minutes after departure. Frequency 125.2. I had filed /U for this aircraft since I had not verified the status of the GPS database. As a result; I expected that ATC would be vectoring me around easterly towards an IAF for the ZZZ VOR approach.During the flight at 5000 feet; ATC directed me to fly direct to Seal Beach. As I approached the VOR; I inquired with ATC as to what route I should be flying after departing the Seal Beach VOR. The controller told me that they had expected me to be flying the SMON7 TEC route (so that I should fly onwards along V8). The controller was surprised/confused when I told him that SMO ground had given me Seal Beach Direct ZZZ. Direct; as I knew and as they commented on frequency about; would put me directly in line with the approach segments for LAX also at 5000 feet.
Tower issued a clearance not coordinated with TRACON. Pilot and ATC resolved the ambiguity while airborne.