IMC in VFR flight by private pilot.

Attributes
ACN	296368
Time
Date	199502
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : myv
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1100 msl bound upper : 1100
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sac
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 3 flight time total : 250 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	296368
Person 2
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 12000 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed chico area VFR in VMC to marysville. Marysville was IMC when I departed by automatic but forecast to improve to VMC by afternoon. As the flight progress, WX began to deteriorate. Attempted to contact marysville FSS, but unable. I could receive but not transmit on either radio. By this time I established that there was a radio problem, I was approximately halfway between VMC and the destination airport. I decided to continue to destination which was approximately 10 mi to the south. I monitored my radios, because I could still receive, and determined there was another aircraft doing ILS approach to marysville. I knew that the altitude at the IAP is published at 1600 ft and I know where the OM is. This is why I stayed at 1100 ft which is also pattern altitude at marysville, and kept a mental picture of the other aircraft's position. After aircraft went missed approach, I waited 3-4 min before landing. My mistake was that I didn't get an updated WX report before departure. If I had, the flight would not have been attempted. The WX was forecast to be just like the day before, and from all indications it seemed that it would be. I am usually very conscientious about WX briefings and usually get them at marysville FSS. The people there know who I am because of the familiarity created by all the briefings. The 1 time I didn't update my information. I got burned. Fortunately there was no mishap -- never again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IMC IN VFR FLT BY PVT PLT.

Narrative: DEPARTED CHICO AREA VFR IN VMC TO MARYSVILLE. MARYSVILLE WAS IMC WHEN I DEPARTED BY AUTO BUT FORECAST TO IMPROVE TO VMC BY AFTERNOON. AS THE FLT PROGRESS, WX BEGAN TO DETERIORATE. ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT MARYSVILLE FSS, BUT UNABLE. I COULD RECEIVE BUT NOT XMIT ON EITHER RADIO. BY THIS TIME I ESTABLISHED THAT THERE WAS A RADIO PROB, I WAS APPROX HALFWAY BTWN VMC AND THE DEST ARPT. I DECIDED TO CONTINUE TO DEST WHICH WAS APPROX 10 MI TO THE S. I MONITORED MY RADIOS, BECAUSE I COULD STILL RECEIVE, AND DETERMINED THERE WAS ANOTHER ACFT DOING ILS APCH TO MARYSVILLE. I KNEW THAT THE ALT AT THE IAP IS PUBLISHED AT 1600 FT AND I KNOW WHERE THE OM IS. THIS IS WHY I STAYED AT 1100 FT WHICH IS ALSO PATTERN ALT AT MARYSVILLE, AND KEPT A MENTAL PICTURE OF THE OTHER ACFT'S POS. AFTER ACFT WENT MISSED APCH, I WAITED 3-4 MIN BEFORE LNDG. MY MISTAKE WAS THAT I DIDN'T GET AN UPDATED WX RPT BEFORE DEP. IF I HAD, THE FLT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTED. THE WX WAS FORECAST TO BE JUST LIKE THE DAY BEFORE, AND FROM ALL INDICATIONS IT SEEMED THAT IT WOULD BE. I AM USUALLY VERY CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT WX BRIEFINGS AND USUALLY GET THEM AT MARYSVILLE FSS. THE PEOPLE THERE KNOW WHO I AM BECAUSE OF THE FAMILIARITY CREATED BY ALL THE BRIEFINGS. THE 1 TIME I DIDN'T UPDATE MY INFO. I GOT BURNED. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO MISHAP -- NEVER AGAIN.

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.