GA PLT VOICED CONCERN REGARDING FSS FAILURE TO CANCEL IFR FLT PLAN AFTER MAKING AN APCH TO BNH; AND LENGTH OF TIME TO RECEIVE SERVICE.

Narrative

WAS CLEARED FOR AN APPROACH IN TO RWY 11R (NON-TOWERED) AND TOLD TO CHANGE TO ADVISORY; CONTACT HOUSTON CTR ON THE GROUND OR FSS IF UNABLE TO REACH CTR. I LANDED; TRIED TO REACH HOUSTON CTR AND TWO DIFFERENT FSS ON 4 DIFFERENT FREQS WITH NO RESPONSE. TAXIED TO RAMP AND SHUT DOWN; WALKED DIRECTLY TO A PHONE AND DIALED FSS. WAITED 15 MINUTES FOR A BRIEFER. BRIEFER WAS UPSET I HAD NOT CANCELLED IFR -- I TOLD BRIEFER THAT I WAS UNABLE TO CANCEL IFR OVER THE RADIO AND SHE WAS THE FIRST PERSON I TALKED TO SINCE I LANDED. BRIEFER SAID THEY WOULD CANCEL MY IFR. I THEN FILED A FLIGHT PLAN FOR THE OUTBOUND LEG AND FSS GAVE ME A PHONE NUMBER TO CALL FOR CLEARANCE. CALLED HOUSTON CTR (AUSTIN SECTOR) AND ASKED FOR CLEARANCE -- I WAS TOLD THAT MY INBOUND IFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS STILL ACTIVE. I TOLD THE CONTROLLER OVER THE PHONE THAT I HAD ATTEMPTED TO CANCEL IFR OVER THE RADIO AND EVENTUALLY TALKED TO A BRIEFER WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO CANCEL FOR ME OVER THE PHONE. I GOT MY CLEARANCE FOR THE OUTBOUND AND TOOK OFF. CALLED CTR AIRBORNE AND WAS GIVEN A FULL ROUTE CLEARANCE. DURING A BREAK IN THE RADIO TRAFFIC THE CONTROLLER TOLD ME OVER THE AIR THAT MY IFR INBOUND WAS STILL ACTIVE AND IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO CLOSE IT GOING IN TO A NON-TOWERED FIELD. THE FREQ WAS BUSY AND I DID NOT THINK ARGUING WITH THE CONTROLLER WAS PRUDENT AT THAT TIME. HAVING TO HOLD 15 MINUTES OR MORE FOR A BRIEFER WITH THE CONSOLIDATION OF FSS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. FURTHERMORE; IN A SITUATION WITH WX RIGHT AT MINIMUMS LIKE I'VE DESCRIBED; NOT BEING ABLE TO TALK TO A BRIEFER QUICKLY IS DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS -- WHAT IF THERE HAD BEEN SOMEONE ELSE TRYING TO GET IN BEHIND ME WHILE I LISTENED TO THE PHONE TELL ME; 'YOUR CALL IS IMPORTANT TO US.' IF EVER FACED WITH A SITUATION SUCH AS THIS AGAIN; I WILL GET THE INITIALS OF EVERY FSS SPECIALIST AND/OR ATCER WHO I TALK TO AT ANY PHASE. BEING BERATED ON A CENTER FREQUENCY FOR NOT CANCELING IFR NEARLY AN HOUR AFTER LANDING; CANCELING; REFUELING; AND DEPARTING AGAIN IS UNACCEPTABLE AND UNPROFESSIONAL TREATMENT BY THE ATCER; ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WAS FSS/ATC WHOSE LACK OF COMMUNICATION AND CAPABILITY CAUSED THE PROBLEM.CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED NO ADDITIONAL INFO.