Narrative:

While flying at 500' under a reported 800' ceiling in marginal VFR conditions during a part 91 flight with no passenger aboard the aircraft, I inadvertently entered IMC. After completing a 180 degree turn and flying this course for 1 min I was still IMC in uncontrolled airspace. I elected to climb above the layer and broke out at 2500'. At this point, I contacted company to advise them of my condition. Even though company was underneath me they did not acknowledge. I then contacted whidbey approach and arranged to conduct ASR approachs. The first approach was a missed approach. The controller issued a missed approach of right turn to 230 degrees and maintain 3000'. I repeated this back to him and then requested to switch to company. I again called company, and the owner said to find a hole and land as soon as possible. I told him I would attempt to comply and then switched back to whidbey approach. The controller's supervisor came on frequency and stated my missed approach instructions were a right to 130 degree not 230 degree. I told him that I had repeated back 230 degree and that was correct at the time. Due to this error I had inadvertently been vectored over canadian airspace. On the third approach, I found a hole and proceeded to land. Causes: I needed to be more careful of WX conditions. My company needs a policy concerning IFR operations part 91 far. Contributing factors: poor communications between myself, whibey, and my company. Inexperienced new controller, no company plan or policy.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOW FLYING SMA ENTERS IMC AND I UNABLE TO SELF EXTRICATE, REQUIRES ASSISTANCE FROM WHIDBY NAS TRACON FOR ASR'S.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING AT 500' UNDER A RPTED 800' CEILING IN MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS DURING A PART 91 FLT WITH NO PAX ABOARD THE ACFT, I INADVERTENTLY ENTERED IMC. AFTER COMPLETING A 180 DEG TURN AND FLYING THIS COURSE FOR 1 MIN I WAS STILL IMC IN UNCTLED AIRSPACE. I ELECTED TO CLB ABOVE THE LAYER AND BROKE OUT AT 2500'. AT THIS POINT, I CONTACTED COMPANY TO ADVISE THEM OF MY CONDITION. EVEN THOUGH COMPANY WAS UNDERNEATH ME THEY DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE. I THEN CONTACTED WHIDBEY APCH AND ARRANGED TO CONDUCT ASR APCHS. THE FIRST APCH WAS A MISSED APCH. THE CTLR ISSUED A MISSED APCH OF R TURN TO 230 DEGS AND MAINTAIN 3000'. I REPEATED THIS BACK TO HIM AND THEN REQUESTED TO SWITCH TO COMPANY. I AGAIN CALLED COMPANY, AND THE OWNER SAID TO FIND A HOLE AND LAND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I TOLD HIM I WOULD ATTEMPT TO COMPLY AND THEN SWITCHED BACK TO WHIDBEY APCH. THE CTLR'S SUPVR CAME ON FREQ AND STATED MY MISSED APCH INSTRUCTIONS WERE A R TO 130 DEG NOT 230 DEG. I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD REPEATED BACK 230 DEG AND THAT WAS CORRECT AT THE TIME. DUE TO THIS ERROR I HAD INADVERTENTLY BEEN VECTORED OVER CANADIAN AIRSPACE. ON THE THIRD APCH, I FOUND A HOLE AND PROCEEDED TO LAND. CAUSES: I NEEDED TO BE MORE CAREFUL OF WX CONDITIONS. MY COMPANY NEEDS A POLICY CONCERNING IFR OPS PART 91 FAR. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: POOR COMS BTWN MYSELF, WHIBEY, AND MY COMPANY. INEXPERIENCED NEW CTLR, NO COMPANY PLAN OR POLICY.

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.