Pilot of PA24-250 encounters rising cloud layer and enters IMC without an IFR clearance.

Attributes
ACN	376230
Time
Date	199707
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tdd airport : gri
State Reference	NE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-24 Comanche
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 1150 flight time type : 550
ASRS Report	376230
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter other non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on a VFR flight from boulder city, nv, to thedford, northeast, (fuel stop) I flew between cloud layer from west of scottsbluff, northeast, to tdd, thinking there would be a hold somewhere along the way. When there was none and the lower layer of clouds began to rise I turned toward grand island, northeast. I was able to maintain VFR by climbing to 13000 ft. In the meantime, I called flight service to get ZDV frequency and in fact got on radar with den (before IMC). Went IMC for 5-10 mins before landing at grand island. Was low on fuel. 8-9 gallons remaining in tank at grand island, northeast.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF PA24-250 ENCOUNTERS RISING CLOUD LAYER AND ENTERS IMC WITHOUT AN IFR CLRNC.

Narrative: WHILE ON A VFR FLT FROM BOULDER CITY, NV, TO THEDFORD, NE, (FUEL STOP) I FLEW BTWN CLOUD LAYER FROM W OF SCOTTSBLUFF, NE, TO TDD, THINKING THERE WOULD BE A HOLD SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY. WHEN THERE WAS NONE AND THE LOWER LAYER OF CLOUDS BEGAN TO RISE I TURNED TOWARD GRAND ISLAND, NE. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN VFR BY CLBING TO 13000 FT. IN THE MEANTIME, I CALLED FLT SVC TO GET ZDV FREQ AND IN FACT GOT ON RADAR WITH DEN (BEFORE IMC). WENT IMC FOR 5-10 MINS BEFORE LNDG AT GRAND ISLAND. WAS LOW ON FUEL. 8-9 GALLONS REMAINING IN TANK AT GRAND ISLAND, NE.

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.