Narrative:

I was planning to depart 1w2 approximately XA30 pm, to fly 4 NM south to mtn to pick up a pilot friend. From mtn I ha an IFR flight plan filed to ilg to do practice INS approachs. I called leesburg FSS at XX15 to obtain WX and to file flight plan. The briefing I obtained at XX15 contained the following information. The briefing concluded at XA25. I arrived at 1w2 at XC55 and preflted my aircraft. At XD15 I called leesburg AFSS to listen to the recorded WX from XD00. The recording indicated that mtn was MVFR with 1500 broken, visibility greater than 3 mi. I used this information to decide to proceed to mtn VFR. Mtn control zone includes 1w2, so I tried raising mtn tower to get latest sky conditions. I heard tower's response to my initial call-up, but could not make out the WX information I requested. Since WX received only 15 mins earlier indicated MVFR conditions at worst, I decided to takeoff and proceed with my plan. As I was driving to the airport, sky conditions appeared to be a lower scattered deck, with a higher overcast and good visibility. I proceeded to takeoff, and during climb out encountered clouds at 900' MSL. I descended to 800' to remain VFR and turned north to circle north of 1w2 (to remain clear of the mtn control zone). I called bwi approach on 119.0 and explained that I was VFR 2 mi west of baltimore airpark at 800', requesting IFR clearance to mtn. I was actually 2 mi north of 1w2. Bwi eventually picked me up on radar 3 NM north of 1w2 and issued my clearance to mtn. I then successfully shot the approach, landed and called bwi TRACON to explain my popup clearance and the circumstances behind it. I never did go to ilg.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA VFR IN IMC.

Narrative: I WAS PLANNING TO DEPART 1W2 APPROX XA30 PM, TO FLY 4 NM S TO MTN TO PICK UP A PLT FRIEND. FROM MTN I HA AN IFR FLT PLAN FILED TO ILG TO DO PRACTICE INS APCHS. I CALLED LEESBURG FSS AT XX15 TO OBTAIN WX AND TO FILE FLT PLAN. THE BRIEFING I OBTAINED AT XX15 CONTAINED THE FOLLOWING INFO. THE BRIEFING CONCLUDED AT XA25. I ARRIVED AT 1W2 AT XC55 AND PREFLTED MY ACFT. AT XD15 I CALLED LEESBURG AFSS TO LISTEN TO THE RECORDED WX FROM XD00. THE RECORDING INDICATED THAT MTN WAS MVFR WITH 1500 BROKEN, VISIBILITY GREATER THAN 3 MI. I USED THIS INFO TO DECIDE TO PROCEED TO MTN VFR. MTN CTL ZONE INCLUDES 1W2, SO I TRIED RAISING MTN TWR TO GET LATEST SKY CONDITIONS. I HEARD TWR'S RESPONSE TO MY INITIAL CALL-UP, BUT COULD NOT MAKE OUT THE WX INFO I REQUESTED. SINCE WX RECEIVED ONLY 15 MINS EARLIER INDICATED MVFR CONDITIONS AT WORST, I DECIDED TO TKOF AND PROCEED WITH MY PLAN. AS I WAS DRIVING TO THE ARPT, SKY CONDITIONS APPEARED TO BE A LOWER SCATTERED DECK, WITH A HIGHER OVCST AND GOOD VISIBILITY. I PROCEEDED TO TKOF, AND DURING CLBOUT ENCOUNTERED CLOUDS AT 900' MSL. I DSNDED TO 800' TO REMAIN VFR AND TURNED N TO CIRCLE N OF 1W2 (TO REMAIN CLR OF THE MTN CTL ZONE). I CALLED BWI APCH ON 119.0 AND EXPLAINED THAT I WAS VFR 2 MI W OF BALTIMORE AIRPARK AT 800', REQUESTING IFR CLRNC TO MTN. I WAS ACTUALLY 2 MI N OF 1W2. BWI EVENTUALLY PICKED ME UP ON RADAR 3 NM N OF 1W2 AND ISSUED MY CLRNC TO MTN. I THEN SUCCESSFULLY SHOT THE APCH, LANDED AND CALLED BWI TRACON TO EXPLAIN MY POPUP CLRNC AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES BEHIND IT. I NEVER DID GO TO ILG.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.