<< >> NASA ASRS Report 276868, July 1994

Private pilot of an small aircraft sel obtained a flight assist after losing flight visibility due to deteriorating WX conditions.

Attributes
ACN	276868
Time
Date	199407
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : buf airport : iag
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : buf
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 44 flight time total : 101 flight time type : 97
ASRS Report	276868
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : exited adverse environment none taken : anomaly accepted other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I received WX from buf flight service less than an hour before takeoff from niagara falls international. The reported ceiling was 2000 ft scattered, 4000 ft overcast. After departure I contacted buf approach for flight following. I was advised to follow the lake erie coast line south. At this point the WX was VFR, but hazy. As I proceeded south the haze began to get more dense at my 1500 ft MSL altitude. During this time I could not visibly detect distinct clouds ahead due to the haze. I realized at this point that if I continued on my present course I would be in instrument conditions. I radioed approach and told them I wanted to turn around and go back to niagara falls international. I was instructed to fly 360 degrees which put me into the clouds. Upon questioning of my flight conditions I replied I was in IMC. He then told me to maintain 360 degrees until I 'broke out' and report at that time. IMC lasted approximately 30 seconds. The controller asked if I was IFR qualified, which I replied no. VFR was maintained all the way back to iag. Apparently the scattered layer had dropped to 1200 ft in buffalo, which I had believed to be 2000 ft, from my WX report. At no time did I perceive myself (or others) to be in any real jeopardy. It was a matter of not being able to specifically differentiate the clouds from the strong haze.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT OF AN SMA SEL OBTAINED A FLT ASSIST AFTER LOSING FLT VISIBILITY DUE TO DETERIORATING WX CONDITIONS.

Narrative: I RECEIVED WX FROM BUF FLT SVC LESS THAN AN HR BEFORE TKOF FROM NIAGARA FALLS INTL. THE RPTED CEILING WAS 2000 FT SCATTERED, 4000 FT OVCST. AFTER DEP I CONTACTED BUF APCH FOR FLT FOLLOWING. I WAS ADVISED TO FOLLOW THE LAKE ERIE COAST LINE S. AT THIS POINT THE WX WAS VFR, BUT HAZY. AS I PROCEEDED S THE HAZE BEGAN TO GET MORE DENSE AT MY 1500 FT MSL ALT. DURING THIS TIME I COULD NOT VISIBLY DETECT DISTINCT CLOUDS AHEAD DUE TO THE HAZE. I REALIZED AT THIS POINT THAT IF I CONTINUED ON MY PRESENT COURSE I WOULD BE IN INST CONDITIONS. I RADIOED APCH AND TOLD THEM I WANTED TO TURN AROUND AND GO BACK TO NIAGARA FALLS INTL. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO FLY 360 DEGS WHICH PUT ME INTO THE CLOUDS. UPON QUESTIONING OF MY FLT CONDITIONS I REPLIED I WAS IN IMC. HE THEN TOLD ME TO MAINTAIN 360 DEGS UNTIL I 'BROKE OUT' AND RPT AT THAT TIME. IMC LASTED APPROX 30 SECONDS. THE CTLR ASKED IF I WAS IFR QUALIFIED, WHICH I REPLIED NO. VFR WAS MAINTAINED ALL THE WAY BACK TO IAG. APPARENTLY THE SCATTERED LAYER HAD DROPPED TO 1200 FT IN BUFFALO, WHICH I HAD BELIEVED TO BE 2000 FT, FROM MY WX RPT. AT NO TIME DID I PERCEIVE MYSELF (OR OTHERS) TO BE IN ANY REAL JEOPARDY. IT WAS A MATTER OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SPECIFICALLY DIFFERENTIATE THE CLOUDS FROM THE STRONG HAZE.

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.