Pilot of atx departed gcn VFR but encountered WX, obtained IFR clearance from ZLA.

Attributes
ACN	195465
Time
Date	199111
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gcn
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 1850 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	195465
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After departing VFR from gcn runway 21, I proceeded VFR with 6 passenger to las vegas. I was aware of low ceilings and visibility along the direct rtes in sfar-50-2 airspace, and chose to fly a southerly course toward pgs VORTAC, then direct las. As I proceeded, the ceilings began to lower. Remaining clear of controled airspace, I was unable to maintain VMC and penetrated IMC conditions. At that point, I contacted ZLA and obtained an IFR clearance to las. In retrospect, I believe the only realistic way to have avoided this situation was to never have departed gcn. The decision to depart was based on several items. Among them: the WX in this area is often low to marginal VFR, and I have successfully flown in these conditions many times. Sfar-50-2 VFR WX mins require only 2 mi visibility and remain clear of clouds. Current WX reports indicated that the WX would not be approaching IMC for several hours.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF ATX DEPARTED GCN VFR BUT ENCOUNTERED WX, OBTAINED IFR CLRNC FROM ZLA.

Narrative: AFTER DEPARTING VFR FROM GCN RWY 21, I PROCEEDED VFR WITH 6 PAX TO LAS VEGAS. I WAS AWARE OF LOW CEILINGS AND VISIBILITY ALONG THE DIRECT RTES IN SFAR-50-2 AIRSPACE, AND CHOSE TO FLY A SOUTHERLY COURSE TOWARD PGS VORTAC, THEN DIRECT LAS. AS I PROCEEDED, THE CEILINGS BEGAN TO LOWER. REMAINING CLR OF CTLED AIRSPACE, I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN VMC AND PENETRATED IMC CONDITIONS. AT THAT POINT, I CONTACTED ZLA AND OBTAINED AN IFR CLRNC TO LAS. IN RETROSPECT, I BELIEVE THE ONLY REALISTIC WAY TO HAVE AVOIDED THIS SITUATION WAS TO NEVER HAVE DEPARTED GCN. THE DECISION TO DEPART WAS BASED ON SEVERAL ITEMS. AMONG THEM: THE WX IN THIS AREA IS OFTEN LOW TO MARGINAL VFR, AND I HAVE SUCCESSFULLY FLOWN IN THESE CONDITIONS MANY TIMES. SFAR-50-2 VFR WX MINS REQUIRE ONLY 2 MI VISIBILITY AND REMAIN CLR OF CLOUDS. CURRENT WX RPTS INDICATED THAT THE WX WOULD NOT BE APCHING IMC FOR SEVERAL HRS.

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.