Pilot of small aircraft found himself on top of a layer of clouds with WX deteriorating and visibili...

Attributes
ACN	118216
Time
Date	198907
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : blf
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid tower : msp
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 260 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	118216
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Upon receiving WX briefing at the destination and en route I encountered haze and or fog. Bluefield reported 3-5 mi visibility, ceiling of 3500-5000' AGL. I have been flying with the use of a LORAN and had not used vors for over 18 months. I was able to fly back to oak hill and get under the clouds to return to bluefield. I was aware of my position since I was following route 77 south and 460 west to better visibility. FSS wanted me to climb through the clouds to 5000' AGL and squawk 7700. I declined because I knew where I was. The problem arose due to en route WX I had not anticipated. After I found myself on top of the clouds I returned north until the cloud layer diminished and then returned under the layer. I may have used less than good judgement in attempting to pass through the haze/fog believing that I could maintain at least 1 mi visibility. My actions were to climb to avoid the mountains and circle until I could establish radio contact. I did not panic; I realized that I had to maintain altitude, airspeed and a level attitude. Corrective action: I will not fly into what appears to be marginal WX and have begun working on my instrument rating. Although I knew where I was, FSS did not and I could have interfered with other traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA FOUND HIMSELF ON TOP OF A LAYER OF CLOUDS WITH WX DETERIORATING AND VISIBILITY REDUCING. RETRACED HIS ROUTE--WENT UNDER THE CLOUDS TO HIS DESTINATION.

Narrative: UPON RECEIVING WX BRIEFING AT THE DEST AND ENRTE I ENCOUNTERED HAZE AND OR FOG. BLUEFIELD RPTED 3-5 MI VISIBILITY, CEILING OF 3500-5000' AGL. I HAVE BEEN FLYING WITH THE USE OF A LORAN AND HAD NOT USED VORS FOR OVER 18 MONTHS. I WAS ABLE TO FLY BACK TO OAK HILL AND GET UNDER THE CLOUDS TO RETURN TO BLUEFIELD. I WAS AWARE OF MY POS SINCE I WAS FOLLOWING ROUTE 77 S AND 460 W TO BETTER VISIBILITY. FSS WANTED ME TO CLB THROUGH THE CLOUDS TO 5000' AGL AND SQUAWK 7700. I DECLINED BECAUSE I KNEW WHERE I WAS. THE PROB AROSE DUE TO ENRTE WX I HAD NOT ANTICIPATED. AFTER I FOUND MYSELF ON TOP OF THE CLOUDS I RETURNED N UNTIL THE CLOUD LAYER DIMINISHED AND THEN RETURNED UNDER THE LAYER. I MAY HAVE USED LESS THAN GOOD JUDGEMENT IN ATTEMPTING TO PASS THROUGH THE HAZE/FOG BELIEVING THAT I COULD MAINTAIN AT LEAST 1 MI VISIBILITY. MY ACTIONS WERE TO CLB TO AVOID THE MOUNTAINS AND CIRCLE UNTIL I COULD ESTABLISH RADIO CONTACT. I DID NOT PANIC; I REALIZED THAT I HAD TO MAINTAIN ALT, AIRSPD AND A LEVEL ATTITUDE. CORRECTIVE ACTION: I WILL NOT FLY INTO WHAT APPEARS TO BE MARGINAL WX AND HAVE BEGUN WORKING ON MY INSTRUMENT RATING. ALTHOUGH I KNEW WHERE I WAS, FSS DID NOT AND I COULD HAVE INTERFERED WITH OTHER TFC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Pilot of small aircraft found himself on top of a layer of clouds with WX deteriorating and visibility reducing. Retraced his route--went under the clouds to his destination.