VFR in IFR conditions.

Attributes
ACN	294338
Time
Date	199501
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : jnu
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 500 msl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zan tower : jnu artcc : zab
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 125 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	294338
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed jnu at XA20 bound for hns. WX at both places was reported to be good VFR. About 1/2 way to hns (30 NM) WX conditions started to go below 500 ft, 2 mi. 180 degree turn for jnu was made. The WX in jnu was deteriorating to below VFR to MVFR. A special was obtained to enter class D and class east airspace. The conditions continued to deteriorate. I started circling a small island 8 mi southwest of the airport, trying to get a fix on my location. Conditions continued to drop until I was IMC. I immediately informed jnu tower and began climbing. An emergency was declared and I was vectored to sister island VORTAC and they put me on an IFR flight plan with zan. The ARTCC vectored me to sitka, to a VFR condition that was reported to be 3000 ft and 30 mi. An approach was made and the aircraft landed without further incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR IN IFR CONDITIONS.

Narrative: I DEPARTED JNU AT XA20 BOUND FOR HNS. WX AT BOTH PLACES WAS RPTED TO BE GOOD VFR. ABOUT 1/2 WAY TO HNS (30 NM) WX CONDITIONS STARTED TO GO BELOW 500 FT, 2 MI. 180 DEG TURN FOR JNU WAS MADE. THE WX IN JNU WAS DETERIORATING TO BELOW VFR TO MVFR. A SPECIAL WAS OBTAINED TO ENTER CLASS D AND CLASS E AIRSPACE. THE CONDITIONS CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE. I STARTED CIRCLING A SMALL ISLAND 8 MI SW OF THE ARPT, TRYING TO GET A FIX ON MY LOCATION. CONDITIONS CONTINUED TO DROP UNTIL I WAS IMC. I IMMEDIATELY INFORMED JNU TWR AND BEGAN CLBING. AN EMER WAS DECLARED AND I WAS VECTORED TO SISTER ISLAND VORTAC AND THEY PUT ME ON AN IFR FLT PLAN WITH ZAN. THE ARTCC VECTORED ME TO SITKA, TO A VFR CONDITION THAT WAS RPTED TO BE 3000 FT AND 30 MI. AN APCH WAS MADE AND THE ACFT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

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.