Instrument pilot, student, filed and flew IFR flight plan in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	121133
Time
Date	198908
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : phl
State Reference	PA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 7500 agl bound upper : 7500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff cruise other landing other
Route In Use	enroute airway : phl
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 1300 flight time type : 75
ASRS Report	121133
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 2500
ASRS Report	121142
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I misunderstood my instrument's instructions and filed an IFR flight plan and flew it in IMC. The flight was uneventful, but I have since realized that as a student, I am not permitted to file and fly such a plan in IMC. The instrument's suggestion was that I file VFR, using the same routing as if it were an IFR plan, remaining in VFR conditions and using VFR altitudes.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSTRUMENT PLT, STUDENT, FILED AND FLEW IFR FLT PLAN IN IMC.

Narrative: I MISUNDERSTOOD MY INSTR'S INSTRUCTIONS AND FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN AND FLEW IT IN IMC. THE FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL, BUT I HAVE SINCE REALIZED THAT AS A STUDENT, I AM NOT PERMITTED TO FILE AND FLY SUCH A PLAN IN IMC. THE INSTR'S SUGGESTION WAS THAT I FILE VFR, USING THE SAME ROUTING AS IF IT WERE AN IFR PLAN, REMAINING IN VFR CONDITIONS AND USING VFR ALTS.

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.