VFR GA pilot lands at MSL in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	179998
Time
Date	199105
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : msl
State Reference	AL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dfw
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	landing other other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	179998
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed the airport at athens, tn, in the morning, with intended destination of MSL, and then to ruston, la WX permitting. I arrived at MSL with WX in that area getting to be marginal, however, appearing to me to be VFR. I had a problem with my primary communication radio, but used a hand-held to contact CTAF, but got no reply. Then called unicom frequency and got no reply. I flew the pattern and landed and went into the FSS on the airport. The person on duty informed me that the airport was IFR. I explained that I had had no problem seeing the airport and clearing myself for other traffic. He pointed out that the rotating beacon was operating and I did note that it was operating after I got out of the aircraft. I do admit that the WX at the airport was deteriorating; however, at the VOR it was perfectly clear with ceiling broken at approximately 4500' MSL. Again, I had no problem seeing the airport from 2-3 mi out at 1000-1500' altitude and was able to clear myself for traffic in the pattern area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR GA PLT LANDS AT MSL IN IMC.

Narrative: I DEPARTED THE ARPT AT ATHENS, TN, IN THE MORNING, WITH INTENDED DEST OF MSL, AND THEN TO RUSTON, LA WX PERMITTING. I ARRIVED AT MSL WITH WX IN THAT AREA GETTING TO BE MARGINAL, HOWEVER, APPEARING TO ME TO BE VFR. I HAD A PROB WITH MY PRIMARY COM RADIO, BUT USED A HAND-HELD TO CONTACT CTAF, BUT GOT NO REPLY. THEN CALLED UNICOM FREQ AND GOT NO REPLY. I FLEW THE PATTERN AND LANDED AND WENT INTO THE FSS ON THE ARPT. THE PERSON ON DUTY INFORMED ME THAT THE ARPT WAS IFR. I EXPLAINED THAT I HAD HAD NO PROB SEEING THE ARPT AND CLRING MYSELF FOR OTHER TFC. HE POINTED OUT THAT THE ROTATING BEACON WAS OPERATING AND I DID NOTE THAT IT WAS OPERATING AFTER I GOT OUT OF THE ACFT. I DO ADMIT THAT THE WX AT THE ARPT WAS DETERIORATING; HOWEVER, AT THE VOR IT WAS PERFECTLY CLR WITH CEILING BROKEN AT APPROX 4500' MSL. AGAIN, I HAD NO PROB SEEING THE ARPT FROM 2-3 MI OUT AT 1000-1500' ALT AND WAS ABLE TO CLR MYSELF FOR TFC IN THE PATTERN AREA.

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.