Small aircraft pilot flew in IMC conditions without clearance.

Attributes
ACN	422812
Time
Date	199812
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ald
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : ztl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 85 flight time total : 1040 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	422812
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Flying cross country from 16J to 50J VFR, in the area of sbo, southwest of augusta, GA, the WX began to deteriorate, so we called ZTL on 128.1 at 4500 ft and requested an IFR clearance. After repeating the request no less than 4 times, and holding for 20-25 mins, the controller had not given the IFR to me, or a squawk code. He continued to ask if I wanted VFR flight following. At this time the low cloud cover in question looked like it was clearing, so we continued at a lower altitude (3000 ft) without services from ZTL. As we continued, the ceiling got lower, and about 20 mi west of the ald VOR, we went IFR without a clearance, then turned 180 degrees to get out of the cloud. At this time, we called ZJX and got an IFR clearance with no delay. Continued the flight, which was diverted to charleston uneventfully. I believe that not getting services from ZTL and the wish to press on, caused this to happen.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT FLEW IN IMC CONDITIONS WITHOUT CLRNC.

Narrative: FLYING XCOUNTRY FROM 16J TO 50J VFR, IN THE AREA OF SBO, SW OF AUGUSTA, GA, THE WX BEGAN TO DETERIORATE, SO WE CALLED ZTL ON 128.1 AT 4500 FT AND REQUESTED AN IFR CLRNC. AFTER REPEATING THE REQUEST NO LESS THAN 4 TIMES, AND HOLDING FOR 20-25 MINS, THE CTLR HAD NOT GIVEN THE IFR TO ME, OR A SQUAWK CODE. HE CONTINUED TO ASK IF I WANTED VFR FLT FOLLOWING. AT THIS TIME THE LOW CLOUD COVER IN QUESTION LOOKED LIKE IT WAS CLRING, SO WE CONTINUED AT A LOWER ALT (3000 FT) WITHOUT SVCS FROM ZTL. AS WE CONTINUED, THE CEILING GOT LOWER, AND ABOUT 20 MI W OF THE ALD VOR, WE WENT IFR WITHOUT A CLRNC, THEN TURNED 180 DEGS TO GET OUT OF THE CLOUD. AT THIS TIME, WE CALLED ZJX AND GOT AN IFR CLRNC WITH NO DELAY. CONTINUED THE FLT, WHICH WAS DIVERTED TO CHARLESTON UNEVENTFULLY. I BELIEVE THAT NOT GETTING SVCS FROM ZTL AND THE WISH TO PRESS ON, CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN.

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.