GA small aircraft VFR in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	151880
Time
Date	199007
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fai
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5500 msl bound upper : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : fai
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 65 flight time type : 65
ASRS Report	151880
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was en route from bettles to fai VFR to 5500'. When I contacted approach. 15 mi to the north clouds were between myself and airport. When I reported to approach, I was told that WX was better to west and south. I turned west. I was between layers of clouds with visibility to the west unobstructed. I could see the ground for about 15 mi. I continued to the west and the opening in front of me closed off. I did a 360 degree turn and everything was closed off. I proceeded to west and approach vectored em with a heading to the south where WX wa still VFR. I was still between layers below minimums. I was told to turn east. I turned east and the ground became visible and I was let down and landed after contacting tower for SVFR approach. When I encountered clouds I should have turned around and gone to an alternate airport. Approach was extremely helpful but I think I kept flying believing WX was better than it was.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA VFR IN IMC.

Narrative: I WAS ENRTE FROM BETTLES TO FAI VFR TO 5500'. WHEN I CONTACTED APCH. 15 MI TO THE N CLOUDS WERE BTWN MYSELF AND ARPT. WHEN I RPTED TO APCH, I WAS TOLD THAT WX WAS BETTER TO W AND S. I TURNED W. I WAS BTWN LAYERS OF CLOUDS WITH VISIBILITY TO THE W UNOBSTRUCTED. I COULD SEE THE GND FOR ABOUT 15 MI. I CONTINUED TO THE W AND THE OPENING IN FRONT OF ME CLOSED OFF. I DID A 360 DEG TURN AND EVERYTHING WAS CLOSED OFF. I PROCEEDED TO W AND APCH VECTORED EM WITH A HDG TO THE S WHERE WX WA STILL VFR. I WAS STILL BTWN LAYERS BELOW MINIMUMS. I WAS TOLD TO TURN E. I TURNED E AND THE GND BECAME VISIBLE AND I WAS LET DOWN AND LANDED AFTER CONTACTING TWR FOR SVFR APCH. WHEN I ENCOUNTERED CLOUDS I SHOULD HAVE TURNED AROUND AND GONE TO AN ALTERNATE ARPT. APCH WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL BUT I THINK I KEPT FLYING BELIEVING WX WAS BETTER THAN IT WAS.

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.