A low time; non-instrument rated pilot survives penetration of IFR conditions and the successful exe...

Attributes
ACN	1210436
Time
Date	201410
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach Initial Approach
Route In Use	Direct None
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 24.7 Flight Crew Total 64.0 Flight Crew Type 64.0
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural FAR Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC

Narrative:

I was on a schedule and needed to arrive by a certain time; however the weather was uncooperative. The problem was that I decided to continue VFR flight into lifr conditions. I had the approach plate ready to go in case if the weather was not MVFR or VFR upon arrival. It was lifr upon arrival; so I decided to execute the ILS approach procedure for runway X at ZZZ. The landing was successful. In all honesty; I should not be alive. I am a VFR-only pilot with just 3.4 hours of simulated instrument time. However; I put to use all of my instrument training and flight simulator experience to shoot an ILS approach to minimums. I think it is very important to emphasize to VFR pilots how stupid of a decision it is to continue flight into IMC. Everyone thinks; 'it won't happen to me. I'll never make a decision that imprudent.' no. That is a lie. Everyone will make a mistake. People need to be educated well ahead of time what are the dangers of continued VFR flight into IMC. Additionally; VFR flight training needs to be changed to better suit an emergency in which a VFR pilot might have no choice but to execute an approach and not be afraid to call up ATC and ask for help.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A low time; non-instrument rated pilot survives penetration of IFR conditions and the successful execution of an ILS approach to minimums. He admits the error in his judgment and offers advice to the industry.

Narrative: I was on a schedule and needed to arrive by a certain time; however the weather was uncooperative. The problem was that I decided to continue VFR flight into LIFR conditions. I had the approach plate ready to go in case if the weather was not MVFR or VFR upon arrival. It was LIFR upon arrival; so I decided to execute the ILS approach procedure for Runway X at ZZZ. The landing was successful. In all honesty; I should not be alive. I am a VFR-only pilot with just 3.4 hours of simulated instrument time. However; I put to use all of my instrument training and flight simulator experience to shoot an ILS approach to minimums. I think it is very important to emphasize to VFR pilots how stupid of a decision it is to continue flight into IMC. Everyone thinks; 'It won't happen to me. I'll never make a decision that imprudent.' No. That is a lie. Everyone will make a mistake. People need to be educated well ahead of time what are the dangers of continued VFR flight into IMC. Additionally; VFR flight training needs to be changed to better suit an emergency in which a VFR pilot might have no choice but to execute an approach and not be afraid to call up ATC and ask for help.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.