Reporter flies into class D airspace without clearance VFR in IMC at night.

Attributes
ACN	320873
Time
Date	199511
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bet
State Reference	AK
Altitude	agl bound lower : 600 agl bound upper : 600
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : bet
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	other
Route In Use	approach : svfr
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 189 flight time total : 785 flight time type : 265
ASRS Report	320873
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a return trip to bethel, I was advised that the airport WX had deteriorated to below VFR minimums. I requested a special VFR clearance and was told to hold outside the airspace. During the extended time of the hold, the instrument panel lighting failed, and it had become dark. I advised tower that I was maintaining position with a WX tower that was within the controled airspace, the tower had a flashing beacon for ground reference. Landing occurred without incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR FLIES INTO CLASS D AIRSPACE WITHOUT CLRNC VFR IN IMC AT NIGHT.

Narrative: ON A RETURN TRIP TO BETHEL, I WAS ADVISED THAT THE ARPT WX HAD DETERIORATED TO BELOW VFR MINIMUMS. I REQUESTED A SPECIAL VFR CLRNC AND WAS TOLD TO HOLD OUTSIDE THE AIRSPACE. DURING THE EXTENDED TIME OF THE HOLD, THE INST PANEL LIGHTING FAILED, AND IT HAD BECOME DARK. I ADVISED TWR THAT I WAS MAINTAINING POS WITH A WX TWR THAT WAS WITHIN THE CTLED AIRSPACE, THE TWR HAD A FLASHING BEACON FOR GND REF. LNDG OCCURRED WITHOUT 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.