Pilot of an small aircraft single engine land aircraft spiraled down during an IFR descent to remain clear of clouds resulting in a deviation from heading for assigned track.

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Attributes
ACN	247797
Time
Date	199307
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rbg
State Reference	OR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zse
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : v448
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 625 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	247797
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on an IFR flight plan between olympia and medford, or. I did so to stay on top of clouds. Later, my artificial horizon was making false indications and I did not want to depend on it. My intentions were to cancel IFR when I passed the clouds. When I saw big holes in clouds I asked if I could descend from 7000 ft to 5000. Permission was granted, so I spiraled 1 or 2 times to get under. Then the controller asked if I wanted to cancel (or he cancelled me) and I rogered. I should have cancelled myself or waited until I passed the clouds.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN SMA SINGLE ENG LAND ACFT SPIRALED DOWN DURING AN IFR DSCNT TO REMAIN CLR OF CLOUDS RESULTING IN A DEV FROM HDG FOR ASSIGNED TRACK.

Narrative: I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN BTWN OLYMPIA AND MEDFORD, OR. I DID SO TO STAY ON TOP OF CLOUDS. LATER, MY ARTIFICIAL HORIZON WAS MAKING FALSE INDICATIONS AND I DID NOT WANT TO DEPEND ON IT. MY INTENTIONS WERE TO CANCEL IFR WHEN I PASSED THE CLOUDS. WHEN I SAW BIG HOLES IN CLOUDS I ASKED IF I COULD DSND FROM 7000 FT TO 5000. PERMISSION WAS GRANTED, SO I SPIRALED 1 OR 2 TIMES TO GET UNDER. THEN THE CTLR ASKED IF I WANTED TO CANCEL (OR HE CANCELLED ME) AND I ROGERED. I SHOULD HAVE CANCELLED MYSELF OR WAITED UNTIL I PASSED THE CLOUDS.

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.