Narrative:

I received a WX briefing prior to takeoff from toa where the ceiling was 3000' and visibility 4 mi. At poc the ceiling was 1500' and the visibility 2 1/2 mi, the en route ceiling was 2500-3000'. The forecast for the ETA was ceiling 1500'. I decided not to take this flight due to lack of instrument currency. However, I did ride along with an instrument instrument. He decided not to file IFR, but to fly VFR and enter brackett'sctl zone with a special VFR clearance. The flight went as planned past el monte airport at 2500' MSL where we were at least 500' below the clouds and visibility was greater than 3 mi. At that time, he listened to brackett's ATIS which reported ceiling 1500' and visibility 2 1/2 mi. He requested a VFR control zone clearance from the tower. The clearance was received and he was instructed to continue inbound. We descended to 2000' MSL to avoid clouds. The next tower instruction was to expect a 10 min delay and to circle. While circling, the ceiling and visibility was rapidly decreasing. We could not continue nor turn back and maintain VFR. This situation forced us to descent while holding to maintain VFR. He requested rv for an ILS. He was instructed to contact ontario approach. Approach instructed him to continue to the airport VFR due to our low altitude. He informed them that it was not possible to continue VFR. Then he was instructed to climb VFR. However, this was not possible either. Again he requested rv for an ILS. This entire time the WX was becoming progressively worse until we were circling at 1400' MSL. Approach instructed him to climb and gave rv onto the approach. This situation could have been avoided by filing an IFR flight plan and receiving an IFR clearance prior to takeoff.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA VFR IN IMC BELOW LAX TCA ENROUTE TO POC FROM TOA.

Narrative: I RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING PRIOR TO TKOF FROM TOA WHERE THE CEILING WAS 3000' AND VISIBILITY 4 MI. AT POC THE CEILING WAS 1500' AND THE VISIBILITY 2 1/2 MI, THE ENRTE CEILING WAS 2500-3000'. THE FORECAST FOR THE ETA WAS CEILING 1500'. I DECIDED NOT TO TAKE THIS FLT DUE TO LACK OF INSTRUMENT CURRENCY. HOWEVER, I DID RIDE ALONG WITH AN INSTRUMENT INSTR. HE DECIDED NOT TO FILE IFR, BUT TO FLY VFR AND ENTER BRACKETT'SCTL ZONE WITH A SPECIAL VFR CLRNC. THE FLT WENT AS PLANNED PAST EL MONTE ARPT AT 2500' MSL WHERE WE WERE AT LEAST 500' BELOW THE CLOUDS AND VISIBILITY WAS GREATER THAN 3 MI. AT THAT TIME, HE LISTENED TO BRACKETT'S ATIS WHICH RPTED CEILING 1500' AND VISIBILITY 2 1/2 MI. HE REQUESTED A VFR CTL ZONE CLRNC FROM THE TWR. THE CLRNC WAS RECEIVED AND HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTINUE INBND. WE DSNDED TO 2000' MSL TO AVOID CLOUDS. THE NEXT TWR INSTRUCTION WAS TO EXPECT A 10 MIN DELAY AND TO CIRCLE. WHILE CIRCLING, THE CEILING AND VISIBILITY WAS RAPIDLY DECREASING. WE COULD NOT CONTINUE NOR TURN BACK AND MAINTAIN VFR. THIS SITUATION FORCED US TO DSNT WHILE HOLDING TO MAINTAIN VFR. HE REQUESTED RV FOR AN ILS. HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT ONTARIO APCH. APCH INSTRUCTED HIM TO CONTINUE TO THE ARPT VFR DUE TO OUR LOW ALT. HE INFORMED THEM THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO CONTINUE VFR. THEN HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO CLB VFR. HOWEVER, THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE EITHER. AGAIN HE REQUESTED RV FOR AN ILS. THIS ENTIRE TIME THE WX WAS BECOMING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE UNTIL WE WERE CIRCLING AT 1400' MSL. APCH INSTRUCTED HIM TO CLB AND GAVE RV ONTO THE APCH. THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED BY FILING AN IFR FLT PLAN AND RECEIVING AN IFR CLRNC PRIOR TO TKOF.

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.