Low time GA pilot encounters deteriorating WX near sav and requires ATC assistance as he enters IMC.

Attributes
ACN	177360
Time
Date	199104
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 49j
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sav tracon : orf
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 240 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	177360
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : provided flight assist other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I received a WX briefing for a trip from st augustine, fl to wilmington, de, N92. Conditions were stated to be marginal for VFR flight in the sav area. I decided it would check WX again when I got to the sav area. Sav approach was giving me VFR advisories. As I approached sav the WX was deteriorating to IFR conditions due to a storm approaching. I decided to do a 180 degree turn and contacted approach, who informed me hilton head, sc, 49J was still VFR. I was vectored and told to report altitude changes. I was at 2000' when I entered clouds and I informed the controller of my predicament and was told to maintain 2000' and was finally descended to 1500', where I made a visibility sighting of the airports. I should have descended earlier. No excuse. I was flying an small aircraft that was IFR equipped.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOW TIME GA PLT ENCOUNTERS DETERIORATING WX NEAR SAV AND REQUIRES ATC ASSISTANCE AS HE ENTERS IMC.

Narrative: I RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING FOR A TRIP FROM ST AUGUSTINE, FL TO WILMINGTON, DE, N92. CONDITIONS WERE STATED TO BE MARGINAL FOR VFR FLT IN THE SAV AREA. I DECIDED IT WOULD CHK WX AGAIN WHEN I GOT TO THE SAV AREA. SAV APCH WAS GIVING ME VFR ADVISORIES. AS I APCHED SAV THE WX WAS DETERIORATING TO IFR CONDITIONS DUE TO A STORM APCHING. I DECIDED TO DO A 180 DEG TURN AND CONTACTED APCH, WHO INFORMED ME HILTON HEAD, SC, 49J WAS STILL VFR. I WAS VECTORED AND TOLD TO RPT ALT CHANGES. I WAS AT 2000' WHEN I ENTERED CLOUDS AND I INFORMED THE CTLR OF MY PREDICAMENT AND WAS TOLD TO MAINTAIN 2000' AND WAS FINALLY DSNDED TO 1500', WHERE I MADE A VIS SIGHTING OF THE ARPTS. I SHOULD HAVE DSNDED EARLIER. NO EXCUSE. I WAS FLYING AN SMA THAT WAS IFR EQUIPPED.

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.