An small aircraft pilot landed en route when he came upon some WX.

Attributes
ACN	249680
Time
Date	199308
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : oth
State Reference	OR
Altitude	agl bound lower : 700 agl bound upper : 700
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zse tower : oth
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 500 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	249680
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

I was VFR on top at 9500 ft. The layer under me was broken. I was about 25 mins into my flight from mfr, or, to hqm, wa -- a 2 hour flight. Tried to contact FSS and ZSE for WX and flight following, with a reply of 'aircraft calling FSS/ZSE you're unreadable.' my radios were transmitting but my voice was unreadable. At that point I did not want to continue VFR on top with no radios. I started squawking 7600 and my descent to the nearest airport with services, north bend, or (oth). Staying VFR, I descended to 700 ft over shoreline about 5-7 mi from north bend airport. I was able to talk with north bend unicom 122.95 about 10 mi out and they were able to understand me. I stayed with 122.95 and asked for SVFR, denied. I did not want to continue in the marginal conditions. Unicom asked if I wanted to declare an emergency to land. I responded yes. Stayed clear of the control zone 5 mi southwest over the coast line until clearance was given to enter the control zone. I was able to maintain VFR and navigation visually to the airport and land. Contacted ZSE by landline/telephone. Found my microphone to be bad. My decisions were made early before any stress started. The emergency was a precautionary measure taken by me.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA PLT LANDED ENRTE WHEN HE CAME UPON SOME WX.

Narrative: I WAS VFR ON TOP AT 9500 FT. THE LAYER UNDER ME WAS BROKEN. I WAS ABOUT 25 MINS INTO MY FLT FROM MFR, OR, TO HQM, WA -- A 2 HR FLT. TRIED TO CONTACT FSS AND ZSE FOR WX AND FLT FOLLOWING, WITH A REPLY OF 'ACFT CALLING FSS/ZSE YOU'RE UNREADABLE.' MY RADIOS WERE XMITTING BUT MY VOICE WAS UNREADABLE. AT THAT POINT I DID NOT WANT TO CONTINUE VFR ON TOP WITH NO RADIOS. I STARTED SQUAWKING 7600 AND MY DSCNT TO THE NEAREST ARPT WITH SVCS, NORTH BEND, OR (OTH). STAYING VFR, I DSNDED TO 700 FT OVER SHORELINE ABOUT 5-7 MI FROM NORTH BEND ARPT. I WAS ABLE TO TALK WITH NORTH BEND UNICOM 122.95 ABOUT 10 MI OUT AND THEY WERE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND ME. I STAYED WITH 122.95 AND ASKED FOR SVFR, DENIED. I DID NOT WANT TO CONTINUE IN THE MARGINAL CONDITIONS. UNICOM ASKED IF I WANTED TO DECLARE AN EMER TO LAND. I RESPONDED YES. STAYED CLR OF THE CTL ZONE 5 MI SW OVER THE COAST LINE UNTIL CLRNC WAS GIVEN TO ENTER THE CTL ZONE. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN VFR AND NAV VISUALLY TO THE ARPT AND LAND. CONTACTED ZSE BY LANDLINE/TELEPHONE. FOUND MY MICROPHONE TO BE BAD. MY DECISIONS WERE MADE EARLY BEFORE ANY STRESS STARTED. THE EMER WAS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE TAKEN BY ME.

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.