<< >> NASA ASRS Report 352061, November 1996

Small aircraft departs without a flight plan and encounters IMC conditions. Climbs through the overcast and in returning to arb penetrates class D airspace jxn, class C airspace lan and class east airspace IMC without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	352061
Time
Date	199611
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : jxn
State Reference	MI
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob tracon : lan tower : jxn
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	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 14 flight time total : 229 flight time type : 76
ASRS Report	352061
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was en route from ann arbor to nashville, tn, and encountered fog and dropping ceilings in south ohio. I persevered too long, and ran into fog. Since I was below the level of the highest ground obstructions, I initiated a climbing turn on instruments, and flew back along my route toward jackson. After descending below the ceiling again, I was able to receive only the jackson VOR. Because of strong tailwind, my dead reckoning was off, and I inadvertently approached jackson, possibly violated jackson airspace. I became confused, continued north, and may have violated lansing airspace. Corrections: 1) don't fly in such marginal WX. 2) obtain GPS. 3) plan better. 4) get IFR license. 5) contact ATC when in trouble.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA DEPARTS WITHOUT A FLT PLAN AND ENCOUNTERS IMC CONDITIONS. CLBS THROUGH THE OVCST AND IN RETURNING TO ARB PENETRATES CLASS D AIRSPACE JXN, CLASS C AIRSPACE LAN AND CLASS E AIRSPACE IMC WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: I WAS ENRTE FROM ANN ARBOR TO NASHVILLE, TN, AND ENCOUNTERED FOG AND DROPPING CEILINGS IN S OHIO. I PERSEVERED TOO LONG, AND RAN INTO FOG. SINCE I WAS BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE HIGHEST GND OBSTRUCTIONS, I INITIATED A CLBING TURN ON INSTS, AND FLEW BACK ALONG MY RTE TOWARD JACKSON. AFTER DSNDING BELOW THE CEILING AGAIN, I WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE ONLY THE JACKSON VOR. BECAUSE OF STRONG TAILWIND, MY DEAD RECKONING WAS OFF, AND I INADVERTENTLY APCHED JACKSON, POSSIBLY VIOLATED JACKSON AIRSPACE. I BECAME CONFUSED, CONTINUED N, AND MAY HAVE VIOLATED LANSING AIRSPACE. CORRECTIONS: 1) DON'T FLY IN SUCH MARGINAL WX. 2) OBTAIN GPS. 3) PLAN BETTER. 4) GET IFR LICENSE. 5) CONTACT ATC WHEN IN TROUBLE.

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.