VFR departure encounters cloud cover at 50 ft.

Attributes
ACN	267402
Time
Date	199404
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : avx
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1602 msl bound upper : 2300
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sna
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Baron 58/58TC
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	267402
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : took evasive action none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was advised by CTAF that the active runway was 22, I taxied to the end, advised that I was departing and started to roll. After liftoff and reaching about 50 ft, I was in full IMC. I had no choice except to complete the climb to on top, which took about 30 seconds. Tops were about 2300 MSL. The southwest end of the runway had a ceiling reported of 200 ft by CTAF. The northeast end was clear with about 5 mi visibility and is about 200 ft lower than the other, precluding line of sight to the other end. I thought there would be no problem staying VFR until I passed the end which drops off immediately several hundred ft and was VFR under. In the future, I will be more observant and, if there is any doubt, get clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR DEP ENCOUNTERS CLOUD COVER AT 50 FT.

Narrative: I WAS ADVISED BY CTAF THAT THE ACTIVE RWY WAS 22, I TAXIED TO THE END, ADVISED THAT I WAS DEPARTING AND STARTED TO ROLL. AFTER LIFTOFF AND REACHING ABOUT 50 FT, I WAS IN FULL IMC. I HAD NO CHOICE EXCEPT TO COMPLETE THE CLB TO ON TOP, WHICH TOOK ABOUT 30 SECONDS. TOPS WERE ABOUT 2300 MSL. THE SW END OF THE RWY HAD A CEILING RPTED OF 200 FT BY CTAF. THE NE END WAS CLR WITH ABOUT 5 MI VISIBILITY AND IS ABOUT 200 FT LOWER THAN THE OTHER, PRECLUDING LINE OF SIGHT TO THE OTHER END. I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE NO PROB STAYING VFR UNTIL I PASSED THE END WHICH DROPS OFF IMMEDIATELY SEVERAL HUNDRED FT AND WAS VFR UNDER. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL BE MORE OBSERVANT AND, IF THERE IS ANY DOUBT, GET CLRNC.

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.