Narrative:

The aircraft was initially on an instrument flight plan from ezf-pne. At approximately 50 NM from pne both WX advisories at phl and pne reported VFR with an approximately 4000-5000 ft scattered layer visibility greater than 5 mi. Conditions in flight concerned with these reports and the decision was made to cancel IFR, continue with VFR advisories, and descend to 3500 ft. At approximately 3700 ft the visibility decreased to approximately 2 mi and the aircraft entered IMC. Requests for an altitude change were ignored by ATC and I continued at 3500 ft in the interest of safety (on a transponder code, assigned altitude and heading, etc). After clearing the class B I was able to reestablish VFR and continue to landing in VMC. I could have climbed to maintain VMC initially, but felt this would create a greater problem for ATC and other traffic. I feel that this entire situation could have been averted and both or either phl or pne put out a special due to a scattered layer becoming overcast.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT FLIES INTO IMC WHILE ON A VFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: THE ACFT WAS INITIALLY ON AN INST FLT PLAN FROM EZF-PNE. AT APPROX 50 NM FROM PNE BOTH WX ADVISORIES AT PHL AND PNE RPTED VFR WITH AN APPROX 4000-5000 FT SCATTERED LAYER VISIBILITY GREATER THAN 5 MI. CONDITIONS IN FLT CONCERNED WITH THESE RPTS AND THE DECISION WAS MADE TO CANCEL IFR, CONTINUE WITH VFR ADVISORIES, AND DSND TO 3500 FT. AT APPROX 3700 FT THE VISIBILITY DECREASED TO APPROX 2 MI AND THE ACFT ENTERED IMC. REQUESTS FOR AN ALT CHANGE WERE IGNORED BY ATC AND I CONTINUED AT 3500 FT IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY (ON A XPONDER CODE, ASSIGNED ALT AND HDG, ETC). AFTER CLRING THE CLASS B I WAS ABLE TO REESTABLISH VFR AND CONTINUE TO LNDG IN VMC. I COULD HAVE CLBED TO MAINTAIN VMC INITIALLY, BUT FELT THIS WOULD CREATE A GREATER PROB FOR ATC AND OTHER TFC. I FEEL THAT THIS ENTIRE SIT COULD HAVE BEEN AVERTED AND BOTH OR EITHER PHL OR PNE PUT OUT A SPECIAL DUE TO A SCATTERED LAYER BECOMING OVCST.

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.