Non IFR rated pilot goes IMC in VFR flight.

Attributes
ACN	174134
Time
Date	199103
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ard
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 800 msl bound upper : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny tracon : phl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 1500 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	174134
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

How problem arose: flying in an area of unstable conditions, and have a rapid deterioration of WX conditions; i.e., ceilings of 1100', visibility 3 mi at xypm, then ceilings at less than 800' with visibility of 0' at yz pm. Contributing factors: poor communications with center as to current local conditions. Poor communications with FSS as to local conditions. Desire to continue a flight in deteriorating conditions with the expectation of improving conditions. Just prior to entering the fog bank I attempted a turn to a reciprocal course correction. Upon arriving at the reciprocal course at below minimums with 0,0 conditions, I knew I had a serious situations. I established a stable best rate of climb on a known clear heading; i.e., the reciprocal course, established communication with center (clarifying situation), declared an emergency and climbed to a clear VFR altitude. I then followed center's instruction for vectors to a VFR landing field. I thought I had correct and sufficient information on the local conditions to effectively evaluate the WX conditions along the route of flight. I thought that conditions would remain at or above VFR. I did not contact FSS for local conditions. The largest judgement error was to continue a flight that was approaching marginal conditions. Factors affecting the quality of human performance: flying into an area of unstable condition, and having a rapid deteriorating of WX conditions. Poor communications with center and with FSS as to current local condition. Feeling that I had correct and sufficient information on the local conditions to effectively evaluate the WX conditions along the route of flight. Desire to continue a flight in deteriorating conditions with the expectation of improving conditions. Fatigue having flown for 6 hours through a mixed terrain and WX conditions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NON IFR RATED PLT GOES IMC IN VFR FLT.

Narrative: HOW PROB AROSE: FLYING IN AN AREA OF UNSTABLE CONDITIONS, AND HAVE A RAPID DETERIORATION OF WX CONDITIONS; I.E., CEILINGS OF 1100', VISIBILITY 3 MI AT XYPM, THEN CEILINGS AT LESS THAN 800' WITH VISIBILITY OF 0' AT YZ PM. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: POOR COMS WITH CENTER AS TO CURRENT LCL CONDITIONS. POOR COMS WITH FSS AS TO LCL CONDITIONS. DESIRE TO CONTINUE A FLT IN DETERIORATING CONDITIONS WITH THE EXPECTATION OF IMPROVING CONDITIONS. JUST PRIOR TO ENTERING THE FOG BANK I ATTEMPTED A TURN TO A RECIPROCAL COURSE CORRECTION. UPON ARRIVING AT THE RECIPROCAL COURSE AT BELOW MINIMUMS WITH 0,0 CONDITIONS, I KNEW I HAD A SERIOUS SITUATIONS. I ESTABLISHED A STABLE BEST RATE OF CLB ON A KNOWN CLR HDG; I.E., THE RECIPROCAL COURSE, ESTABLISHED COM WITH CENTER (CLARIFYING SITUATION), DECLARED AN EMER AND CLBED TO A CLR VFR ALT. I THEN FOLLOWED CENTER'S INSTRUCTION FOR VECTORS TO A VFR LNDG FIELD. I THOUGHT I HAD CORRECT AND SUFFICIENT INFO ON THE LCL CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVELY EVALUATE THE WX CONDITIONS ALONG THE RTE OF FLT. I THOUGHT THAT CONDITIONS WOULD REMAIN AT OR ABOVE VFR. I DID NOT CONTACT FSS FOR LCL CONDITIONS. THE LARGEST JUDGEMENT ERROR WAS TO CONTINUE A FLT THAT WAS APCHING MARGINAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS AFFECTING THE QUALITY OF HUMAN PERFORMANCE: FLYING INTO AN AREA OF UNSTABLE CONDITION, AND HAVING A RAPID DETERIORATING OF WX CONDITIONS. POOR COMS WITH CENTER AND WITH FSS AS TO CURRENT LCL CONDITION. FEELING THAT I HAD CORRECT AND SUFFICIENT INFO ON THE LCL CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVELY EVALUATE THE WX CONDITIONS ALONG THE RTE OF FLT. DESIRE TO CONTINUE A FLT IN DETERIORATING CONDITIONS WITH THE EXPECTATION OF IMPROVING CONDITIONS. FATIGUE HAVING FLOWN FOR 6 HRS THROUGH A MIXED TERRAIN AND WX CONDITIONS.

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.