GA instructor pilot erroneously entered IMC conditions on takeoff with VFR flight plan at sav, GA.

Attributes
ACN	421199
Time
Date	199811
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sav
State Reference	GA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 500 agl bound upper : 700
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sav tower : sav
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 950
ASRS Report	421199
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far non adherence other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Training flight. Obtained WX briefing at XA28. VFR conditions, ceiling clear. ATIS clear below 12000 ft, temperature 16 degrees, dew point 13 degrees, wind 110 degrees at 7 KTS on surface, 110 degrees at 11 KTS at 3000 ft. Taxi clearance cleared for takeoff. At 300 ft, tower requested altitude leaving. Reported leaving 300 ft. Departure instructions were to remain at or below 3000 ft, squawk XXXX, departure frequency 125.3. After departure, resumed own navigation. We entered fog bank at 800 ft as we were turning on course to a heading of 290 degrees. Runway in use was runway 9. Tried to stay below clouds at 700 ft MSL as we were in and out of fog. Decided to just maintain level flight at 700 ft MSL. Abeam runway end, runway 9, we were back in VFR clear skies. It was night and we couldn't see the fog. A jet took off before we got to take off. No report of fog or low ceilings. Tower never told us to switch to approach frequency. We were in IMC for less than 1 min. Had no choice but to maintain level flight and continue. Didn't know how thick the layer was.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA INSTRUCTOR PLT ERRONEOUSLY ENTERED IMC CONDITIONS ON TKOF WITH VFR FLT PLAN AT SAV, GA.

Narrative: TRAINING FLT. OBTAINED WX BRIEFING AT XA28. VFR CONDITIONS, CEILING CLR. ATIS CLR BELOW 12000 FT, TEMP 16 DEGS, DEW POINT 13 DEGS, WIND 110 DEGS AT 7 KTS ON SURFACE, 110 DEGS AT 11 KTS AT 3000 FT. TAXI CLRNC CLRED FOR TKOF. AT 300 FT, TWR REQUESTED ALT LEAVING. RPTED LEAVING 300 FT. DEP INSTRUCTIONS WERE TO REMAIN AT OR BELOW 3000 FT, SQUAWK XXXX, DEP FREQ 125.3. AFTER DEP, RESUMED OWN NAV. WE ENTERED FOG BANK AT 800 FT AS WE WERE TURNING ON COURSE TO A HDG OF 290 DEGS. RWY IN USE WAS RWY 9. TRIED TO STAY BELOW CLOUDS AT 700 FT MSL AS WE WERE IN AND OUT OF FOG. DECIDED TO JUST MAINTAIN LEVEL FLT AT 700 FT MSL. ABEAM RWY END, RWY 9, WE WERE BACK IN VFR CLR SKIES. IT WAS NIGHT AND WE COULDN'T SEE THE FOG. A JET TOOK OFF BEFORE WE GOT TO TAKE OFF. NO RPT OF FOG OR LOW CEILINGS. TWR NEVER TOLD US TO SWITCH TO APCH FREQ. WE WERE IN IMC FOR LESS THAN 1 MIN. HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLT AND CONTINUE. DIDN'T KNOW HOW THICK THE LAYER WAS.

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.