A BE35 PLT FORGOT TO CANCEL HIS IFR FLT PLAN AFTER LNDG AT AN UNCTLED FIELD. SEARCH AND RESCUE WAS INITIATED.

Narrative

I DEPARTED MCE WITH A DIRECT HDG TOWARDS 3O1; CLBED TO 3000 FT. I NOTICED THAT A CLOUD BANK HAD FORMED OVER AND TO THE E OF 3O1 WITH TOPS NEAR 4000 FT. AT THIS TIME; I REQUESTED AN IFR DSCNT TO VFR. STOCKTON APCH REPLIED WITH A NEW SQUAWK AND A CLRNC TO 1800 FT. I BROKE OUT AT ABOUT 2000 FT; AND 5 MI FROM ARPT AND ADVISED STOCKTON. STOCKTON QUESTIONED IF I WANTED AN APCH OR A VISUAL. MY REPLY WAS A VISUAL. STOCKTON ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO TFC OBSERVED BTWN ME AND THE ARPT; AND I WAS CLRED TO CHANGE FREQ. AT NO TIME DID I CANCEL IFR OR DID STOCKTON ADVISE TO SQUAWK 1200 OR ADVISE TO PHONE WHEN ON THE GND. AT ABOUT XA30 HRS; LCL POLICE DEPT CAME BY THE HANGAR; LOOKING TO CHK AND SEE IF I WAS THERE. I ADVISED OFFICER TO CONTACT HIS DEPT AND ADVISE THAT ALL WAS WELL. LATER; I CONTACTED FSS RANCHO MURIETA AND DISCUSSED THE ABOVE INCIDENT. I REALIZE THAT I SHOULD HAVE CANCELED IFR BY RADIO WITH THE CTLR BEFORE LNDG OR PHONED IN TO THE FSS WHEN ON THE GND. THE CTLRS FROM STOCKTON HAVE WORKED VERY WELL WITH US IN THIS REMOTE AREA; AND USUALLY ADVISE US TO CANCEL OR CALL IN. HE DID NOT ADVISE THIS TIME AND I FORGOT TO CLOSE.