VFR pilot encounters WX. Reverses course to land. Enters czn without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	190245
Time
Date	199109
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gfl
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 900 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	190245
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The WX at my destination turned IFR, and I was caught VFR in near IFR conditions. I turned around and landed at the next closest airport, glens falls, ny. The control zone at gfl was active, from 2 mi visibility. I wasn't aware that it had become active and I landed at the airport VFR when the control zone was in effect. If I had called sooner or unicom I would have known this. The time was scarce, so rather than have an accident I landed immediately this was a flight which shouldn't have taken place. I knew that VFR wasn't recommended but because of my knowledge of the area I thought I would be all right.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR PLT ENCOUNTERS WX. REVERSES COURSE TO LAND. ENTERS CZN WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: THE WX AT MY DEST TURNED IFR, AND I WAS CAUGHT VFR IN NEAR IFR CONDITIONS. I TURNED AROUND AND LANDED AT THE NEXT CLOSEST ARPT, GLENS FALLS, NY. THE CTL ZONE AT GFL WAS ACTIVE, FROM 2 MI VISIBILITY. I WASN'T AWARE THAT IT HAD BECOME ACTIVE AND I LANDED AT THE ARPT VFR WHEN THE CTL ZONE WAS IN EFFECT. IF I HAD CALLED SOONER OR UNICOM I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS. THE TIME WAS SCARCE, SO RATHER THAN HAVE AN ACCIDENT I LANDED IMMEDIATELY THIS WAS A FLT WHICH SHOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN PLACE. I KNEW THAT VFR WASN'T RECOMMENDED BUT BECAUSE OF MY KNOWLEDGE OF THE AREA I THOUGHT I WOULD BE ALL RIGHT.

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.