IMC in VFR flight and heading track deviation.

Attributes
ACN	273754
Time
Date	199406
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : spa
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : gsp tower : gsp
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 840 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	273754
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Had difficult IFR flight. Required deviation to spa from 57A after being caught in level 4 thunderstorm and tossed around a lot. Spent night in hotel. Filed for 25 mi flight for spa to 57A. In aircraft, realized spa tower closed. Tried to get clearance from greer. Unable on ground. Since I was only 10 mi away, I took off and tried to get radar contact in air. Entered clouds just prior to radar contact. Then, while trying to regroup, made south turn, to 180 degrees instead of north turn on VOR, 180 degrees from radial. Greer corrected my error. Rest of flight uneventful. Had get homeitis. Too stressed from night before to be flying.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IMC IN VFR FLT AND HDG TRACK DEV.

Narrative: HAD DIFFICULT IFR FLT. REQUIRED DEV TO SPA FROM 57A AFTER BEING CAUGHT IN LEVEL 4 TSTM AND TOSSED AROUND A LOT. SPENT NIGHT IN HOTEL. FILED FOR 25 MI FLT FOR SPA TO 57A. IN ACFT, REALIZED SPA TWR CLOSED. TRIED TO GET CLRNC FROM GREER. UNABLE ON GND. SINCE I WAS ONLY 10 MI AWAY, I TOOK OFF AND TRIED TO GET RADAR CONTACT IN AIR. ENTERED CLOUDS JUST PRIOR TO RADAR CONTACT. THEN, WHILE TRYING TO REGROUP, MADE S TURN, TO 180 DEGS INSTEAD OF N TURN ON VOR, 180 DEGS FROM RADIAL. GREER CORRECTED MY ERROR. REST OF FLT UNEVENTFUL. HAD GET HOMEITIS. TOO STRESSED FROM NIGHT BEFORE TO BE FLYING.

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.