Super King Air 200
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 45; Flight Crew Total 4500; Flight Crew Type 3800
Workload; Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Procedure; Weather
I was cleared for the GPS Runway X approach. I broke out beneath the overcast layer at approximately 1;500 AGL. Visibility was 10 miles and I was in good VFR conditions. I cancelled my IFR flight plan but was unsure if the cancellation was received as this is a remote north location with poor radio reception at low altitude.Upon reaching my destination airport; I discovered the runway was shrouded in dense ground fog and unsuitable for landing. Since I was in VFR conditions; I circled the airport at 1;000 AGL for about 5 minutes in an effort to determine if the fog might be dissipating which it was not. I then elected to divert to my alternate. Since I had previously cancelled my IFR clearance; I contacted Center requesting; 'Direct ZZZ;' advising them I was in VFR conditions. The Controller must not have received my earlier IFR cancellation as she wanted to know if I was on the published missed approach since this is a non radar environment. I said I was not and I was proceeding VFR to ZZZ. The Controller gave me an approach clearance and I made an uneventful landing at my alternate.I did not fly the published missed approach once I was in VFR conditions; believing I had cancelled my IFR clearance. If I had flown the published missed approach I would have had to climb and reenter IMC conditions; so this was not an option once I was VFR. It all worked out OK and safety of the flight was never compromised. But the Controller was likely confused by my action and the lesson I learned was not to assume the Controller received your IFR cancellation unless you get a response back from them. Secondly; I learned not to be in a rush to cancel my IFR clearance in an effort to free up airspace as I might need the clearance to be in place in case a landing can not be made.
A BE-20 pilot cancelled IFR in VMC and flew to his destination which he found IMC in fog and so contacted ATC again for clearance to his alternate. The Controller apparently had not heard his IFR cancellation and was confused that he was not on the missed approach.