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Pilot inadvertently flew into IMC conditions. No flight plan was filed and pilot was not instrument rated. Reporter was able to contact approach controller who vectored him for a landing at a VFR airport.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 336400 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199605 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : sky |
| State Reference | OH |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 2500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : dtw |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | M-20 B/C Ranger |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other other |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 603 flight time type : 154 |
| ASRS Report | 336400 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took evasive action |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
I departed sandusky (sky) and maintained a heading of 340 degrees and an altitude of 1800 ft MSL. Upon reaching land on the southern coast of canada, I observed clouds ahead of me extending close to the ground. Almost immediately I was in IMC, and concentrated on flying the airplane, maintaining altitude, and beginning a 180 degree turn. I had gained altitude to 2500 ft MSL and attempted to get to monroe (D92). I advised detroit approach 126.85 of my intention, requested and utilized radar assistance, but was unable to see the airport. I advised detroit approach and they vectored me to selfridge, where I was able to land. Ceilings over lake erie were 1700 ft AGL and visibility was 7 mi or better. The operation of the aircraft over water and the blending of the water color and the air made it difficult to observe the cloud ahead. The decision to utilize detroit approach and continue within the cloud was made because I did not want to fly over the water any more than I needed to.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT INADVERTENTLY FLEW INTO IMC CONDITIONS. NO FLT PLAN WAS FILED AND PLT WAS NOT INST RATED. RPTR WAS ABLE TO CONTACT APCH CTLR WHO VECTORED HIM FOR A LNDG AT A VFR ARPT.
Narrative: I DEPARTED SANDUSKY (SKY) AND MAINTAINED A HDG OF 340 DEGS AND AN ALT OF 1800 FT MSL. UPON REACHING LAND ON THE SOUTHERN COAST OF CANADA, I OBSERVED CLOUDS AHEAD OF ME EXTENDING CLOSE TO THE GND. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY I WAS IN IMC, AND CONCENTRATED ON FLYING THE AIRPLANE, MAINTAINING ALT, AND BEGINNING A 180 DEG TURN. I HAD GAINED ALT TO 2500 FT MSL AND ATTEMPTED TO GET TO MONROE (D92). I ADVISED DETROIT APCH 126.85 OF MY INTENTION, REQUESTED AND UTILIZED RADAR ASSISTANCE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ARPT. I ADVISED DETROIT APCH AND THEY VECTORED ME TO SELFRIDGE, WHERE I WAS ABLE TO LAND. CEILINGS OVER LAKE ERIE WERE 1700 FT AGL AND VISIBILITY WAS 7 MI OR BETTER. THE OP OF THE ACFT OVER WATER AND THE BLENDING OF THE WATER COLOR AND THE AIR MADE IT DIFFICULT TO OBSERVE THE CLOUD AHEAD. THE DECISION TO UTILIZE DETROIT APCH AND CONTINUE WITHIN THE CLOUD WAS MADE BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO FLY OVER THE WATER ANY MORE THAN I NEEDED TO.
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.