Pilot of an atx ferry flight operated VFR in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	315748
Time
Date	199509
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dqo
State Reference	DE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 1800
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 500 flight time type : 10
ASRS Report	315748
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After departing uncontrolled field (ilg) in VMC, I tried to contact ATC to pick up IFR clearance. After trying 3 frequencys, I continued flight on course into deteriorating VMC to IMC. 25 NM out on the 271 degree radial from dqo, ATC advises us to turn back to dqo to pick up IFR clearance. 15 NM out picked up IFR clearance to destination and continued flight without any further problem. I think that being unfamiliar with the busyness of the east coast, and the very late hour played a role in this event. Confusion and inability to reach ATC first on the frequency listed in ATIS to use, second trying to use last frequency on the inbound, and finally reaching ATC or third frequency contributed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN ATX FERRY FLT OPERATED VFR IN IMC.

Narrative: AFTER DEPARTING UNCTLED FIELD (ILG) IN VMC, I TRIED TO CONTACT ATC TO PICK UP IFR CLRNC. AFTER TRYING 3 FREQS, I CONTINUED FLT ON COURSE INTO DETERIORATING VMC TO IMC. 25 NM OUT ON THE 271 DEG RADIAL FROM DQO, ATC ADVISES US TO TURN BACK TO DQO TO PICK UP IFR CLRNC. 15 NM OUT PICKED UP IFR CLRNC TO DEST AND CONTINUED FLT WITHOUT ANY FURTHER PROB. I THINK THAT BEING UNFAMILIAR WITH THE BUSYNESS OF THE EAST COAST, AND THE VERY LATE HR PLAYED A ROLE IN THIS EVENT. CONFUSION AND INABILITY TO REACH ATC FIRST ON THE FREQ LISTED IN ATIS TO USE, SECOND TRYING TO USE LAST FREQ ON THE INBOUND, AND FINALLY REACHING ATC OR THIRD FREQ CONTRIBUTED.

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.