Small aircraft takeoff in marginal VFR conditions only to encounter full IMC. Aircraft returns to la...

Attributes
ACN	343609
Time
Date	199608
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : n90
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : n90
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time total : 250
ASRS Report	343609
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was flying at cruise, 3500 ft from swf to dkk. I had filed a VFR flight plan and activated it in the air. WX at swf was VFR but marginal. WX to the west was reported much better and improving along the route. I started to lose visual contact with the ground. I made a 180 degree turn hoping to return to VFR conditions. 1/2 way through the turn I was in the clouds. I couldn't see anything except white. I had some instrument training and concentrated on holding the airplane level and started to scan the instruments. I told my passenger, also a VFR private pilot, to call ATC, who we had been in contact with, for flight following. He vectored us back to swf. About 5.5 mi from swf we saw the airport and continued visual to land uneventfully. I should have never taken off in marginal conditions. I also should have made a better decision on the direction I made my 180 degree turn perhaps to the right or at a lower altitude would have kept me out of the clouds. I think private pilots should have a little more hood training. If I hadn't worked on my instrument rating I would have been in a worse mess.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA TKOF IN MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS ONLY TO ENCOUNTER FULL IMC. ACFT RETURNS TO LAND AT DEP STATION IN VMC.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING AT CRUISE, 3500 FT FROM SWF TO DKK. I HAD FILED A VFR FLT PLAN AND ACTIVATED IT IN THE AIR. WX AT SWF WAS VFR BUT MARGINAL. WX TO THE W WAS RPTED MUCH BETTER AND IMPROVING ALONG THE RTE. I STARTED TO LOSE VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE GND. I MADE A 180 DEG TURN HOPING TO RETURN TO VFR CONDITIONS. 1/2 WAY THROUGH THE TURN I WAS IN THE CLOUDS. I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING EXCEPT WHITE. I HAD SOME INST TRAINING AND CONCENTRATED ON HOLDING THE AIRPLANE LEVEL AND STARTED TO SCAN THE INSTS. I TOLD MY PAX, ALSO A VFR PVT PLT, TO CALL ATC, WHO WE HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH, FOR FLT FOLLOWING. HE VECTORED US BACK TO SWF. ABOUT 5.5 MI FROM SWF WE SAW THE ARPT AND CONTINUED VISUAL TO LAND UNEVENTFULLY. I SHOULD HAVE NEVER TAKEN OFF IN MARGINAL CONDITIONS. I ALSO SHOULD HAVE MADE A BETTER DECISION ON THE DIRECTION I MADE MY 180 DEG TURN PERHAPS TO THE R OR AT A LOWER ALT WOULD HAVE KEPT ME OUT OF THE CLOUDS. I THINK PVT PLTS SHOULD HAVE A LITTLE MORE HOOD TRAINING. IF I HADN'T WORKED ON MY INST RATING I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A WORSE MESS.

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.

Small aircraft takeoff in marginal VFR conditions only to encounter full IMC. Aircraft returns to land at departure station in VMC.