I agree with
dp - I am also unclear what
SoCal thinks he is assuming.
However, I believe we are again getting in to this far too deep. The function of ATC in these circumstances should have been to inform and assist, not dictate. The pilot was cleared SVFR and, by the sound of it, was perfectly happy flying as cleared, until ATC took it upon themselves to intervene - maybe with the best of intentions but actually as it turned out in a totally counter-productive way. While the pilot was probably incorrect in accepting the ATC instruction to return, ATC had no authority to issue it in the first place. Neither did they have the authority to cancel the SVFR clearance while it was being flown. It was principally these two actions that provoked the subsequent hazard to the flight, which would otherwise in all probability continued perfectly safely. Unfortunately this was compounded by the pilot (unwisely) accepting the unauthorised instructions and therefore, to this extent, must take some share of the responsibility for what ensued. However the trigger for the incident surely remains the inappropriate action of ATC.
JD
