Unauthorized penetration of arsa while encountering WX in VFR flight.

Attributes
ACN	125071
Time
Date	198910
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : crw
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : crw
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 1125 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	125071
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

On flight from norfolk, va, to cincinnati, oh, the WX deteriorated just south of charleston, wv. I attempted to remain VFR under a lower IMC ceiling. Ultimately I became trapped in a fog shrouded valley and lost sight of the ground. I pulled up and attempted to contact charleston approach but was unable. I had mode C squawking 1200 and attempted to climb thru the fog and clouds but began picking up ice. I was unable to climb thru and descended to get rid of the ice. Eventually I regained VFR and continued my flight. Once on the ground I found my communication antenna broken. I had completely forgotten about squawking emergency on my transponder. I believe that the problem arose when I continued on into deteriorating WX in an attempt to 'get home'. I had been weathered in at charleston a year before and did not want to repeat that experience. I could hear charleston approach and knew they had me on radar but could not call them.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNAUTH PENETRATION OF ARSA WHILE ENCOUNTERING WX IN VFR FLT.

Narrative: ON FLT FROM NORFOLK, VA, TO CINCINNATI, OH, THE WX DETERIORATED JUST S OF CHARLESTON, WV. I ATTEMPTED TO REMAIN VFR UNDER A LOWER IMC CEILING. ULTIMATELY I BECAME TRAPPED IN A FOG SHROUDED VALLEY AND LOST SIGHT OF THE GND. I PULLED UP AND ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT CHARLESTON APCH BUT WAS UNABLE. I HAD MODE C SQUAWKING 1200 AND ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB THRU THE FOG AND CLOUDS BUT BEGAN PICKING UP ICE. I WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB THRU AND DESCENDED TO GET RID OF THE ICE. EVENTUALLY I REGAINED VFR AND CONTINUED MY FLT. ONCE ON THE GND I FOUND MY COM ANTENNA BROKEN. I HAD COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN ABOUT SQUAWKING EMER ON MY XPONDER. I BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM AROSE WHEN I CONTINUED ON INTO DETERIORATING WX IN AN ATTEMPT TO 'GET HOME'. I HAD BEEN WEATHERED IN AT CHARLESTON A YEAR BEFORE AND DID NOT WANT TO REPEAT THAT EXPERIENCE. I COULD HEAR CHARLESTON APCH AND KNEW THEY HAD ME ON RADAR BUT COULD NOT CALL THEM.

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.