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Pilot of a C172, while VFR, became trapped under a low overcast and climbed in IMC until reaching on top VFR conditions. He then requested a flight assist from ATC to get back to his departing airport.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 355152 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199612 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : 4n1 |
| State Reference | NJ |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 4200 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : n90 |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other cruise other |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 425 flight time type : 400 |
| ASRS Report | 355152 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : provided flight assist flight crew : exited adverse environment other |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew faa : investigated |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Weather |
Narrative:
I left 4n1 to pick up my C172 after having transponder work done. Conditions at the time were 2100 ft and VFR. Upon leaving sussex, the conditions were deteriorating. However, I thought I could circumnav the WX. While continuing my flight and trying different rtes, I found conditions improving in some areas and worse in other areas. I found myself being closed in by the conditions and became surrounded by clouds. I immediately started to climb and contacted new york approach control for assistance. I had inadvertently entered IMC. I climbed through and broke out at 4200 ft. New york approach vectored me to an area of reported VFR conditions so I could descend in VFR conditions. Upon seeing VFR conditions, I descended below the cloud deck (VFR). After this, I advised new york approach I was VFR. He then cleared me to squawk 1200 and go direct to 4n1, greenwood lake airport, where I landed.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF A C172, WHILE VFR, BECAME TRAPPED UNDER A LOW OVCST AND CLBED IN IMC UNTIL REACHING ON TOP VFR CONDITIONS. HE THEN REQUESTED A FLT ASSIST FROM ATC TO GET BACK TO HIS DEPARTING ARPT.
Narrative: I LEFT 4N1 TO PICK UP MY C172 AFTER HAVING XPONDER WORK DONE. CONDITIONS AT THE TIME WERE 2100 FT AND VFR. UPON LEAVING SUSSEX, THE CONDITIONS WERE DETERIORATING. HOWEVER, I THOUGHT I COULD CIRCUMNAV THE WX. WHILE CONTINUING MY FLT AND TRYING DIFFERENT RTES, I FOUND CONDITIONS IMPROVING IN SOME AREAS AND WORSE IN OTHER AREAS. I FOUND MYSELF BEING CLOSED IN BY THE CONDITIONS AND BECAME SURROUNDED BY CLOUDS. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO CLB AND CONTACTED NEW YORK APCH CTL FOR ASSISTANCE. I HAD INADVERTENTLY ENTERED IMC. I CLBED THROUGH AND BROKE OUT AT 4200 FT. NEW YORK APCH VECTORED ME TO AN AREA OF RPTED VFR CONDITIONS SO I COULD DSND IN VFR CONDITIONS. UPON SEEING VFR CONDITIONS, I DSNDED BELOW THE CLOUD DECK (VFR). AFTER THIS, I ADVISED NEW YORK APCH I WAS VFR. HE THEN CLRED ME TO SQUAWK 1200 AND GO DIRECT TO 4N1, GREENWOOD LAKE ARPT, WHERE I LANDED.
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.