Private pilot attempts to go VMC to an airport 8 pt 5 NM away and runs into a line of rain showers o...

Attributes
ACN	371559
Time
Date	199706
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : daa airport : 2w5
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 800 msl bound upper : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 350 flight time type : 280
ASRS Report	371559
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was transporting an aircraft from 2w5 to daa, a distance of 8.5 NM. The WX had been marginal VFR all day. The nearest WX reporting station (dca) reported few clouds at 1500 ft, broken at 3000 ft, visibility 3 mi in light rain. Although instrument rated, I felt it would be ok to fly VFR. Upon takeoff, it became apparent there was a line of scattered to broken rainshowers at 800-1000 ft between 2w5 and daa. I attempted to fly around and/or under this line but it wasn't possible. It looked clear above and I was almost to the daa runway 32 OM, so I penetrated these clouds. I was in there for approximately 10-15 seconds and then was on top. My approach and landing into daa was uneventful. Upon reflection and discussion with more experienced pilots, I realize I should have filed IFR. I thought it was stupid to get a clearance for 8.5 NM, however, it is not (as I found out). I was also a little unsure about how to obtain a clearance from an uncontrolled field in potential IMC. I have now received instructions on the proper procedures (ie, obtain a telephone clearance with a void time from FSS or pick up clearance in the air immediately after takeoff).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT ATTEMPTS TO GO VMC TO AN ARPT 8 PT 5 NM AWAY AND RUNS INTO A LINE OF RAIN SHOWERS ON FINAL APCH. WX RPT HAD FAILED TO INDICATE THOSE SHOWERS.

Narrative: I WAS TRANSPORTING AN ACFT FROM 2W5 TO DAA, A DISTANCE OF 8.5 NM. THE WX HAD BEEN MARGINAL VFR ALL DAY. THE NEAREST WX RPTING STATION (DCA) RPTED FEW CLOUDS AT 1500 FT, BROKEN AT 3000 FT, VISIBILITY 3 MI IN LIGHT RAIN. ALTHOUGH INST RATED, I FELT IT WOULD BE OK TO FLY VFR. UPON TKOF, IT BECAME APPARENT THERE WAS A LINE OF SCATTERED TO BROKEN RAINSHOWERS AT 800-1000 FT BTWN 2W5 AND DAA. I ATTEMPTED TO FLY AROUND AND/OR UNDER THIS LINE BUT IT WASN'T POSSIBLE. IT LOOKED CLR ABOVE AND I WAS ALMOST TO THE DAA RWY 32 OM, SO I PENETRATED THESE CLOUDS. I WAS IN THERE FOR APPROX 10-15 SECONDS AND THEN WAS ON TOP. MY APCH AND LNDG INTO DAA WAS UNEVENTFUL. UPON REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION WITH MORE EXPERIENCED PLTS, I REALIZE I SHOULD HAVE FILED IFR. I THOUGHT IT WAS STUPID TO GET A CLRNC FOR 8.5 NM, HOWEVER, IT IS NOT (AS I FOUND OUT). I WAS ALSO A LITTLE UNSURE ABOUT HOW TO OBTAIN A CLRNC FROM AN UNCTLED FIELD IN POTENTIAL IMC. I HAVE NOW RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PROPER PROCS (IE, OBTAIN A TELEPHONE CLRNC WITH A VOID TIME FROM FSS OR PICK UP CLRNC IN THE AIR IMMEDIATELY AFTER TKOF).

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.

Private pilot attempts to go VMC to an airport 8 pt 5 NM away and runs into a line of rain showers on final approach. WX report had failed to indicate those showers.