<< >> NASA ASRS Report 189395, September 1991

Small aircraft pilot caught above overcast. Finds opening, descends, ceiling 700 ft. Needs flight assist.

Attributes
ACN	189395
Time
Date	199109
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 17n
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 700 msl bound upper : 700
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent other landing other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 600 flight time type : 90
ASRS Report	189395
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Phl was reporting 2 1/2 fog and haze 400 ft. I was landing cross keys. Got to the airport, it was overcast. I was talking to flight watch for an alternate when I saw a large break in the overcast. I went through it, could not find the airport, asked for heading from ATC. They gave it to me. I found the airport and landed during the low flight. I was at 700 MSL and clear of the clouds. I think this is legal but ATC was getting low altitude alerts and asked me if I was IFR rated.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT CAUGHT ABOVE OVCST. FINDS OPENING, DSNDS, CEILING 700 FT. NEEDS FLT ASSIST.

Narrative: PHL WAS RPTING 2 1/2 FOG AND HAZE 400 FT. I WAS LNDG CROSS KEYS. GOT TO THE ARPT, IT WAS OVCST. I WAS TALKING TO FLT WATCH FOR AN ALTERNATE WHEN I SAW A LARGE BREAK IN THE OVCST. I WENT THROUGH IT, COULD NOT FIND THE ARPT, ASKED FOR HDG FROM ATC. THEY GAVE IT TO ME. I FOUND THE ARPT AND LANDED DURING THE LOW FLT. I WAS AT 700 MSL AND CLR OF THE CLOUDS. I THINK THIS IS LEGAL BUT ATC WAS GETTING LOW ALT ALERTS AND ASKED ME IF I WAS IFR RATED.

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.