GA small aircraft VFR in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	175254
Time
Date	199104
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 71j
State Reference	AL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 600
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ozr tower : ilg
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : initial climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 11500 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	175254
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc 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:

Took off VFR planning to pick up IFR clearance night after takeoff. Observed twin takeoff about 2 mins ahead of us and he was still visible when we took off. I immediately called for clearance and was acknowledged. Suddenly, I was in very low VFR conditions before clearance was issued. Lesson: next time I'll get a clearance on the ground prior to takeoff.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA VFR IN IMC.

Narrative: TOOK OFF VFR PLANNING TO PICK UP IFR CLRNC NIGHT AFTER TKOF. OBSERVED TWIN TKOF ABOUT 2 MINS AHEAD OF US AND HE WAS STILL VISIBLE WHEN WE TOOK OFF. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED FOR CLRNC AND WAS ACKNOWLEDGED. SUDDENLY, I WAS IN VERY LOW VFR CONDITIONS BEFORE CLRNC WAS ISSUED. LESSON: NEXT TIME I'LL GET A CLRNC ON THE GND 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.