Noninst rated pilot gets trapped by WX and has to get ATC help.

Attributes
ACN	196338
Time
Date	199112
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fnt
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : fnt
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise 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 : 66 flight time total : 210
ASRS Report	196338
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a VFR pleasure flight from ptk to 5d3, restr visibility was encountered, 3 mi visibility, reported 2200 ft AGL ceiling. I determined that a VFR flight was not possible to 5d3 from my position, so I told flight approach that I was going to change my destination to 9g2. I requested radar vectors to 9g2 because I was sure of the exact heading. I then told flight approach that I was descending to 1500 ft MSL, into uncontrolled airspace. Snow continued reduce visibility. When visibility lowered to less than a mi, I told flight approach. The controller then suggested a heading for the ASR 36 approach to fnt. When the controller reported that I was 6 mi from flight, I could see flight, and continued VFR to flight. During the occurrence, I didn't see any way out from the snow, and after thinking about it later, I still couldn't see any way out. A WX briefing was received from duat with the n- number from an aircraft that I flew earlier during the day.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NONINST RATED PLT GETS TRAPPED BY WX AND HAS TO GET ATC HELP.

Narrative: ON A VFR PLEASURE FLT FROM PTK TO 5D3, RESTR VISIBILITY WAS ENCOUNTERED, 3 MI VISIBILITY, RPTED 2200 FT AGL CEILING. I DETERMINED THAT A VFR FLT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO 5D3 FROM MY POS, SO I TOLD FLT APCH THAT I WAS GOING TO CHANGE MY DEST TO 9G2. I REQUESTED RADAR VECTORS TO 9G2 BECAUSE I WAS SURE OF THE EXACT HDG. I THEN TOLD FLT APCH THAT I WAS DSNDING TO 1500 FT MSL, INTO UNCTLED AIRSPACE. SNOW CONTINUED REDUCE VISIBILITY. WHEN VISIBILITY LOWERED TO LESS THAN A MI, I TOLD FLT APCH. THE CTLR THEN SUGGESTED A HDG FOR THE ASR 36 APCH TO FNT. WHEN THE CTLR RPTED THAT I WAS 6 MI FROM FLT, I COULD SEE FLT, AND CONTINUED VFR TO FLT. DURING THE OCCURRENCE, I DIDN'T SEE ANY WAY OUT FROM THE SNOW, AND AFTER THINKING ABOUT IT LATER, I STILL COULDN'T SEE ANY WAY OUT. A WX BRIEFING WAS RECEIVED FROM DUAT WITH THE N- NUMBER FROM AN ACFT THAT I FLEW EARLIER DURING THE DAY.

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.