2 smas made an IFR approach in formation. One of the aircraft was not fully IFR equipped.

Attributes
ACN	233097
Time
Date	199302
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sps
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dawn
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw tracon : sps
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 1300 flight time type : 160
ASRS Report	233097
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 1300
ASRS Report	233088
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Escort for aircraft to be delivered to factory (small aircraft 2). Aircraft in formation flight (small aircraft 1 and small aircraft 2). Encountered deteriorating WX conditions en route. Both aircraft decided that a return to origin was unfeasible due to WX conditions. Aircraft decided to proceed as a flight of 2 to sheppard air force base for an ILS/PAR approach. Notified ATC (ZFW) which handed flight over to sheppard ATC under an in-flight filed IFR clearance. Lead aircraft (small aircraft 1) and pilot both IFR certified and current. #2 aircraft was not IFR certified, but PIC of #2 aircraft was IFR qualified and current. Also, #2 PIC current in formation flight. ILS approach was successfully completed and flight ended without incident. Due to deteriorating WX conditions, decision to continue flight as flight of 2 to ILS at sheppard air force base seemed best option as sheppard has extensive experience handling flts of 2 or more aircraft under IFR conditions. Both aircraft were in constant communication with ATC. No traffic conflict along route.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 2 SMAS MADE AN IFR APCH IN FORMATION. ONE OF THE ACFT WAS NOT FULLY IFR EQUIPPED.

Narrative: ESCORT FOR ACFT TO BE DELIVERED TO FACTORY (SMA 2). ACFT IN FORMATION FLT (SMA 1 AND SMA 2). ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WX CONDITIONS ENRTE. BOTH ACFT DECIDED THAT A RETURN TO ORIGIN WAS UNFEASIBLE DUE TO WX CONDITIONS. ACFT DECIDED TO PROCEED AS A FLT OF 2 TO SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE FOR AN ILS/PAR APCH. NOTIFIED ATC (ZFW) WHICH HANDED FLT OVER TO SHEPPARD ATC UNDER AN INFLT FILED IFR CLRNC. LEAD ACFT (SMA 1) AND PLT BOTH IFR CERTIFIED AND CURRENT. #2 ACFT WAS NOT IFR CERTIFIED, BUT PIC OF #2 ACFT WAS IFR QUALIFIED AND CURRENT. ALSO, #2 PIC CURRENT IN FORMATION FLT. ILS APCH WAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED AND FLT ENDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. DUE TO DETERIORATING WX CONDITIONS, DECISION TO CONTINUE FLT AS FLT OF 2 TO ILS AT SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE SEEMED BEST OPTION AS SHEPPARD HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE HANDLING FLTS OF 2 OR MORE ACFT UNDER IFR CONDITIONS. BOTH ACFT WERE IN CONSTANT COM WITH ATC. NO TFC CONFLICT ALONG RTE.

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.