Part 135 pilot qualified 135 VFR only files IFR, cancels when instructed to climb into IMC.

Attributes
ACN	169771
Time
Date	199102
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mlg airport : mlb
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : bos
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : takeoff cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 1100
ASRS Report	169771
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While on an atx flight I filed IFR both to tpa and back, the problem being I am only VFR 135 qualified. This being the fact, I never went into IMC conditions. As a matter of fact, I cancelled both IFR flight plans when it became apparently I would not be able to maintain VFR on the way to tpa due to a deck of clouds that was forming (I cancelled, did a 180 degree turn and descended VFR to below the deck and then proceeded VFR to tpa), and on the way back I stayed below the deck of clouds and cancelled when approach wanted me to climb higher, which would have put me in IMC conditions, then proceeded VFR. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter states he is IFR rated, but qualified part 135 VFR only as he does not have the hours for 135 IFR qualification as yet. Files IFR as he feels it is safer and he gets better service than when VFR. Makes sure he never enters IMC. No follow-up.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PART 135 PLT QUALIFIED 135 VFR ONLY FILES IFR, CANCELS WHEN INSTRUCTED TO CLIMB INTO IMC.

Narrative: WHILE ON AN ATX FLT I FILED IFR BOTH TO TPA AND BACK, THE PROB BEING I AM ONLY VFR 135 QUALIFIED. THIS BEING THE FACT, I NEVER WENT INTO IMC CONDITIONS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I CANCELLED BOTH IFR FLT PLANS WHEN IT BECAME APPARENTLY I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN VFR ON THE WAY TO TPA DUE TO A DECK OF CLOUDS THAT WAS FORMING (I CANCELLED, DID A 180 DEG TURN AND DSNDED VFR TO BELOW THE DECK AND THEN PROCEEDED VFR TO TPA), AND ON THE WAY BACK I STAYED BELOW THE DECK OF CLOUDS AND CANCELLED WHEN APCH WANTED ME TO CLB HIGHER, WHICH WOULD HAVE PUT ME IN IMC CONDITIONS, THEN PROCEEDED VFR. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR STATES HE IS IFR RATED, BUT QUALIFIED PART 135 VFR ONLY AS HE DOES NOT HAVE THE HRS FOR 135 IFR QUALIFICATION AS YET. FILES IFR AS HE FEELS IT IS SAFER AND HE GETS BETTER SVC THAN WHEN VFR. MAKES SURE HE NEVER ENTERS IMC. NO FOLLOW-UP.

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.