GA small aircraft pilot did not request svf clearance and thinks she should have.

Attributes
ACN	164247
Time
Date	199012
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lbb
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 800 agl bound upper : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	Special VFR
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lbb
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : takeoff cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 3000
ASRS Report	164247
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed lubbock international VFR, leveled at 800' AGL. Departure requested I give estimate of cloud base and I responded approximately 200' above my altitude. Visibility was 10 mi or greater. I reported back to departure about 10 mins later that I was in an area with scattered clouds only. Hours later I realized that I had failed to request a special VFR before departing in my aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA PLT DID NOT REQUEST SVF CLRNC AND THINKS SHE SHOULD HAVE.

Narrative: I DEPARTED LUBBOCK INTL VFR, LEVELED AT 800' AGL. DEP REQUESTED I GIVE ESTIMATE OF CLOUD BASE AND I RESPONDED APPROX 200' ABOVE MY ALT. VISIBILITY WAS 10 MI OR GREATER. I RPTED BACK TO DEP ABOUT 10 MINS LATER THAT I WAS IN AN AREA WITH SCATTERED CLOUDS ONLY. HRS LATER I REALIZED THAT I HAD FAILED TO REQUEST A SPECIAL VFR BEFORE DEPARTING IN MY ACFT.

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.