M20J pilot reported returning to departure airport after encountering IFR conditions at his destinat...

Attributes
ACN	1431581
Time
Date	201703
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	LNC.Airport
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	M-20 J (201) / Allegro
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20 Flight Crew Total 2082 Flight Crew Type 185
Events
Anomaly	Airspace Violation All Types Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

Narrative:

I departed airport VFR for a short flight to lnc. Both airports reporting MVFR with ceilings of 2;000. I entered the traffic pattern at lnc; and was turning downwind. The cloud base fell to 700 AGL and I entered the clouds. I did not descend further due to hearing a bonanza reporting base in front of me; which I could not see. I decided the safest course of action was to climb and contact approach for a pop up clearance and return to departure airport. I contacted approach and requested an IFR clearance. I was asked if I could remain VFR; which I responded negative; that I was IMC at this time. I was continuing to climb and must have gone through 4;000 ft (base of class B). I was told that I was in class B airspace; that I was cleared into class B airspace; to maintain 4;000 ft and given radar vectors for the GPS approach at [home airport]. The return and rest of approach was uneventful. At the final approach fix I was in visual conditions and cancelled my clearance and thanked the controller for his assistance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: M20J pilot reported returning to departure airport after encountering IFR conditions at his destination.

Narrative: I departed airport VFR for a short flight to LNC. Both airports reporting MVFR with ceilings of 2;000. I entered the traffic pattern at LNC; and was turning downwind. The cloud base fell to 700 AGL and I entered the clouds. I did not descend further due to hearing a Bonanza reporting base in front of me; which I could not see. I decided the safest course of action was to climb and contact Approach for a pop up clearance and return to departure airport. I contacted Approach and requested an IFR clearance. I was asked if I could remain VFR; which I responded negative; that I was IMC at this time. I was continuing to climb and must have gone through 4;000 FT (base of Class B). I was told that I was in Class B airspace; that I was cleared into Class B airspace; to maintain 4;000 FT and given radar vectors for the GPS approach at [home airport]. The return and rest of approach was uneventful. At the final approach fix I was in visual conditions and cancelled my clearance and thanked the controller for his assistance.

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.