Narrative:

Departed camarillo, in VMC, approximately XA30 to XB00. Operation set up with ground personnel to record operation for records. To avoid conflicts at cma, it was arranged for most recording to be done at oxnard. Arrival at oxnard was from the west and a fringe of cloud formed so that, on landing, it was overcast. Tower never reported the field IMC and I never heard the ATIS. On takeoff we had to turn downwind at 800 ft MSL, or less, in order to remain clear of clouds. We made a low approach and turned to the other side of the airport (the PIC thought the WX better on that side). Again we were at 800 ft (maybe less) to remain clear of clouds. We landed and did a final departure. The 'clearing clouds' were still at 800 ft broken to overcast at the departure end. The operation should not have been so casual. WX at oxnard should have been checked and we should have done everything at cma.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOCKHEED L1049 CREW FLEW IN IMC CONDITIONS WITH NO IFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: DEPARTED CAMARILLO, IN VMC, APPROX XA30 TO XB00. OP SET UP WITH GND PERSONNEL TO RECORD OP FOR RECORDS. TO AVOID CONFLICTS AT CMA, IT WAS ARRANGED FOR MOST RECORDING TO BE DONE AT OXNARD. ARR AT OXNARD WAS FROM THE W AND A FRINGE OF CLOUD FORMED SO THAT, ON LNDG, IT WAS OVCST. TWR NEVER RPTED THE FIELD IMC AND I NEVER HEARD THE ATIS. ON TKOF WE HAD TO TURN DOWNWIND AT 800 FT MSL, OR LESS, IN ORDER TO REMAIN CLR OF CLOUDS. WE MADE A LOW APCH AND TURNED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ARPT (THE PIC THOUGHT THE WX BETTER ON THAT SIDE). AGAIN WE WERE AT 800 FT (MAYBE LESS) TO REMAIN CLR OF CLOUDS. WE LANDED AND DID A FINAL DEP. THE 'CLRING CLOUDS' WERE STILL AT 800 FT BROKEN TO OVCST AT THE DEP END. THE OP SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO CASUAL. WX AT OXNARD SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHKED AND WE SHOULD HAVE DONE EVERYTHING AT CMA.

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.