Small aircraft flying VFR encounters rapidly deteriorating WX. Climbs, files IFR.

Attributes
ACN	234966
Time
Date	199302
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gvl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 392 flight time type : 2
ASRS Report	234966
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I obtained an in-person standard WX briefing from FSS, and reviewed WX charts at FSS before starting trip. The WX was VFR along route with ceilings of 5000-6000 ft. Because I have low time in actual IMC and I was flying a rental plane, I decided to go VFR. About 2 hours into the flight, the conditions began to rapidly deteriorate. I turned toward the closest airport (gvl), which was about 5-8 mi off my left wing. I descended from about 3500 ft to 2000 ft. A pilot in the pattern at gvl broadcast that visibility was rapidly dropping. I did not feel that it was safe to try to find the airport in low visibility with aircraft in the pattern. I turned back toward an airport with an on-field NDB, but conditions soon became IMC. I began to climb, and notified ATC. I filed a flight plan with ATC and flew IFR to fulton county airport. In retrospect, I believe that the proper course of action would have been to immediately turn around and head back into better conditions, rather than turn toward the nearest airport.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA FLYING VFR ENCOUNTERS RAPIDLY DETERIORATING WX. CLBS, FILES IFR.

Narrative: I OBTAINED AN IN-PERSON STANDARD WX BRIEFING FROM FSS, AND REVIEWED WX CHARTS AT FSS BEFORE STARTING TRIP. THE WX WAS VFR ALONG RTE WITH CEILINGS OF 5000-6000 FT. BECAUSE I HAVE LOW TIME IN ACTUAL IMC AND I WAS FLYING A RENTAL PLANE, I DECIDED TO GO VFR. ABOUT 2 HRS INTO THE FLT, THE CONDITIONS BEGAN TO RAPIDLY DETERIORATE. I TURNED TOWARD THE CLOSEST ARPT (GVL), WHICH WAS ABOUT 5-8 MI OFF MY L WING. I DSNDED FROM ABOUT 3500 FT TO 2000 FT. A PLT IN THE PATTERN AT GVL BROADCAST THAT VISIBILITY WAS RAPIDLY DROPPING. I DID NOT FEEL THAT IT WAS SAFE TO TRY TO FIND THE ARPT IN LOW VISIBILITY WITH ACFT IN THE PATTERN. I TURNED BACK TOWARD AN ARPT WITH AN ON-FIELD NDB, BUT CONDITIONS SOON BECAME IMC. I BEGAN TO CLB, AND NOTIFIED ATC. I FILED A FLT PLAN WITH ATC AND FLEW IFR TO FULTON COUNTY ARPT. IN RETROSPECT, I BELIEVE THAT THE PROPER COURSE OF ACTION WOULD HAVE BEEN TO IMMEDIATELY TURN AROUND AND HEAD BACK INTO BETTER CONDITIONS, RATHER THAN TURN TOWARD THE NEAREST ARPT.

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.