While trying to fly jumpers to 10000 ft, the reporter encountered IMC in a cloud layer that he could see through, but visibility went way down when in it. He also was pelted with ice needles through the air vents and the open door. Skydivers were already outside on the step. He was unable to get out of the WX before they were gone. Visibility down to the ground was no problem.

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Attributes
ACN	333931
Time
Date	199604
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : n06
State Reference	DE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tower : hou
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 560 flight time type : 140
ASRS Report	333931
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While trying to fly jumpers to 10000 ft, I encountered IFR conditions in a cloud layer that I could see through, but visibility went way down when I got inside of it. We were also pelted with ice needles through the air vents and the open door. Skydivers were already outside on the step, so I was unable to get out of it until they were gone. Visibility down to the ground was no problem. I should have tried to avoid it, but it is difficult when you are trying to fly over the drop zone into the wind for a safe jump.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WHILE TRYING TO FLY JUMPERS TO 10000 FT, THE RPTR ENCOUNTERED IMC IN A CLOUD LAYER THAT HE COULD SEE THROUGH, BUT VISIBILITY WENT WAY DOWN WHEN IN IT. HE ALSO WAS PELTED WITH ICE NEEDLES THROUGH THE AIR VENTS AND THE OPEN DOOR. SKYDIVERS WERE ALREADY OUTSIDE ON THE STEP. HE WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WX BEFORE THEY WERE GONE. VISIBILITY DOWN TO THE GND WAS NO PROB.

Narrative: WHILE TRYING TO FLY JUMPERS TO 10000 FT, I ENCOUNTERED IFR CONDITIONS IN A CLOUD LAYER THAT I COULD SEE THROUGH, BUT VISIBILITY WENT WAY DOWN WHEN I GOT INSIDE OF IT. WE WERE ALSO PELTED WITH ICE NEEDLES THROUGH THE AIR VENTS AND THE OPEN DOOR. SKYDIVERS WERE ALREADY OUTSIDE ON THE STEP, SO I WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF IT UNTIL THEY WERE GONE. VISIBILITY DOWN TO THE GND WAS NO PROB. I SHOULD HAVE TRIED TO AVOID IT, BUT IT IS DIFFICULT WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO FLY OVER THE DROP ZONE INTO THE WIND FOR A SAFE JUMP.

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.