An approach controller declared an emergency for a VFR flight that had continued into IMC. Aircraft ...

Attributes
ACN	296650
Time
Date	199502
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gsb airport : w40
State Reference	NC
Altitude	agl bound lower : 1000 agl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : gsb
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : gsb
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 450 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	296650
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Pilot and passenger (also a pilot) were traveling from new jersey to florida, essentially along victor 1, but flying VFR, as night pilot is IFR qualified. After spending the night in brunswick, nc, we took off into 1500 ft ceiling. Stalled front extended over area making conditions marginal VFR. After refueling at an airport north of kinston, we took off and called kinston for clearance through class D. Told kinston was 900 ft IFR. We diverted west, and contacted seymour johnson AFB tower. We were told ceiling was 1500 ft AGL. Received clearance through class D, and proceeded southwest 10 mi southwest, ceiling started dropping. We were down to 1000 ft AGL. Clouds closed in and we were in IFR conditions, between layers. Experiencing disorientation, turned on autoplt and contacted seymour johnson approach was very helpful. At controller's decision, an emergency was declared. After about 10 mi, we broke out in VMC, and landed at mount olive, nc, uneventfully. The controller's help and professionalism, was greatly appreciated.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN APCH CTLR DECLARED AN EMER FOR A VFR FLT THAT HAD CONTINUED INTO IMC. ACFT LANDED SAFELY, AFTER RECEIVING VECTORS TO VMC.

Narrative: PLT AND PAX (ALSO A PLT) WERE TRAVELING FROM NEW JERSEY TO FLORIDA, ESSENTIALLY ALONG VICTOR 1, BUT FLYING VFR, AS NIGHT PLT IS IFR QUALIFIED. AFTER SPENDING THE NIGHT IN BRUNSWICK, NC, WE TOOK OFF INTO 1500 FT CEILING. STALLED FRONT EXTENDED OVER AREA MAKING CONDITIONS MARGINAL VFR. AFTER REFUELING AT AN ARPT N OF KINSTON, WE TOOK OFF AND CALLED KINSTON FOR CLRNC THROUGH CLASS D. TOLD KINSTON WAS 900 FT IFR. WE DIVERTED W, AND CONTACTED SEYMOUR JOHNSON AFB TWR. WE WERE TOLD CEILING WAS 1500 FT AGL. RECEIVED CLRNC THROUGH CLASS D, AND PROCEEDED SW 10 MI SW, CEILING STARTED DROPPING. WE WERE DOWN TO 1000 FT AGL. CLOUDS CLOSED IN AND WE WERE IN IFR CONDITIONS, BTWN LAYERS. EXPERIENCING DISORIENTATION, TURNED ON AUTOPLT AND CONTACTED SEYMOUR JOHNSON APCH WAS VERY HELPFUL. AT CTLR'S DECISION, AN EMER WAS DECLARED. AFTER ABOUT 10 MI, WE BROKE OUT IN VMC, AND LANDED AT MOUNT OLIVE, NC, UNEVENTFULLY. THE CTLR'S HELP AND PROFESSIONALISM, WAS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

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.

An approach controller declared an emergency for a VFR flight that had continued into IMC. Aircraft landed safely, after receiving vectors to VMC.