Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 8500; Flight Crew Type 1000
Confusion; Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
IFR flight to KSEF IMC. In the approach phase of the flight an approach clearance was issued for the RNAV to runway 1. My clearance was direct FOSEL maintain 2000 feet Cleared for the RNAV1 Approach. My speed was reduced to 210 knots and the aircraft configuration was changed to a landing configuration. While in the turn to the Center came on the radio and cancelled our approach clearance but had no additional clearance. For what felt like the next 20 seconds or so no instructions where given. I asked Center what the problem was and they replied that the missed approach portion of the approach if needed would interfere with the bordering restricted area. This approach has been in effect for years and the restricted area is depicted on the plate.In [my] years of flying in and out of SEF I had never had a controller tell me this. Finally a new clearance was given and it was to climb to 3000 feet but still no heading. I maintained my navigation on the published portion of the approach but did not descend. I was level at 2000 feet. The controller then came on again and told me that I would need to do a Visual Approach if I wanted to land at SEF. Wow; ok by this time the aircraft was just a few miles from the field and I told Center that I would like to continue to the field to see if a Visual Approach would be possible. They agreed. We had been monitoring the weather and it was reported 1000 broken 10 miles visibility. Just about 1 mile from the field I was able to get a visual on the field and I told Center I was cancelling IFR. I started a left turn to 270 and started a descent to 1000 feet. The controller then came back and said I had descended without permission and that they had not read back the cancellation therefore my clearance had not been cancelled. I had maneuvered the aircraft to stay clear of the clouds and landed with no further issues. On taxi in we listened to the AWOS again and it was now reporting 1000 scattered. I still have not found a legitimate reason for them to tell me that I was basically on my own at 2000 feet above the ground and going 200 knots.
Corporate pilot reported ATC cancelled the approach clearance without any further instructions so the pilot cancelled IFR; but was then advised should not have descended.