Flight encountered WX during VFR departure climb.

Attributes
ACN	203051
Time
Date	199202
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : trk
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 15000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa artcc : zny
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude other
Route In Use	departure other departure sid : sid enroute airway : zoa
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 8000
ASRS Report	203051
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I filed an IFR flight plan from trk to cma using a SID truck 1 from trk. Trk is uncontrolled. I attempted communication with oakland center before takeoff, but was unable to reach them because of terrain. I departed trk VFR in light rain and climbed VFR toward truck intersection via the SID. I remained VFR while climbing via the SID and continually tried to contact oakland ATC. I finally got through and advised entering the hold at truck intersection at +/- 13000 ft. I was advised to squawk in and remain VFR. I was unable to remain VFR all the time in the hold and continued climb to 15000 ft at which time ATC advised radar contact. I had intended to remain VFR and had not gotten 'released' before takeoff even though I had filed an IFR flight plan. I should not have assumed I could stay VFR up to 13000 ft and above, and I should not have assumed that even though I could talk to ATC at 13000 ft that they would be able to get me in radar contact quickly - (they were very busy with other traffic and could only work us in sequence.) I should have gotten a release time before takeoff through the FSS via phone. I will in the future if it is not clearly VFR.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT ENCOUNTERED WX DURING VFR DEP CLB.

Narrative: I FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM TRK TO CMA USING A SID TRUCK 1 FROM TRK. TRK IS UNCTLED. I ATTEMPTED COM WITH OAKLAND CTR BEFORE TKOF, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THEM BECAUSE OF TERRAIN. I DEPARTED TRK VFR IN LIGHT RAIN AND CLBED VFR TOWARD TRUCK INTXN VIA THE SID. I REMAINED VFR WHILE CLBING VIA THE SID AND CONTINUALLY TRIED TO CONTACT OAKLAND ATC. I FINALLY GOT THROUGH AND ADVISED ENTERING THE HOLD AT TRUCK INTXN AT +/- 13000 FT. I WAS ADVISED TO SQUAWK IN AND REMAIN VFR. I WAS UNABLE TO REMAIN VFR ALL THE TIME IN THE HOLD AND CONTINUED CLB TO 15000 FT AT WHICH TIME ATC ADVISED RADAR CONTACT. I HAD INTENDED TO REMAIN VFR AND HAD NOT GOTTEN 'RELEASED' BEFORE TKOF EVEN THOUGH I HAD FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN. I SHOULD NOT HAVE ASSUMED I COULD STAY VFR UP TO 13000 FT AND ABOVE, AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE ASSUMED THAT EVEN THOUGH I COULD TALK TO ATC AT 13000 FT THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET ME IN RADAR CONTACT QUICKLY - (THEY WERE VERY BUSY WITH OTHER TFC AND COULD ONLY WORK US IN SEQUENCE.) I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A RELEASE TIME BEFORE TKOF THROUGH THE FSS VIA PHONE. I WILL IN THE FUTURE IF IT IS NOT CLRLY VFR.

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.