Pilot diverted to VFR airport when destination was IFR.

Attributes
ACN	427327
Time
Date	199902
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zme.artcc
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl single value : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 300 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	427327
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to alternate
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Prior to departure, a briefing was obtained for the proposed route of flight. Conditions along the route were VFR, MVFR and IFR due to low ceilings. Along the route of flight, an additional WX briefing was received from flight watch. Based on forecast, VFR on top operations continued into the nashville area. Unfortunately, a solid overcast layer was present. As a VFR rated pilot, it was deemed that the best course of action was to divert to an airport with VFR conditions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT DIVERTED TO VFR ARPT WHEN DEST WAS IFR.

Narrative: PRIOR TO DEP, A BRIEFING WAS OBTAINED FOR THE PROPOSED RTE OF FLT. CONDITIONS ALONG THE RTE WERE VFR, MVFR AND IFR DUE TO LOW CEILINGS. ALONG THE RTE OF FLT, AN ADDITIONAL WX BRIEFING WAS RECEIVED FROM FLT WATCH. BASED ON FORECAST, VFR ON TOP OPS CONTINUED INTO THE NASHVILLE AREA. UNFORTUNATELY, A SOLID OVCST LAYER WAS PRESENT. AS A VFR RATED PLT, IT WAS DEEMED THAT THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO DIVERT TO AN ARPT WITH VFR CONDITIONS.

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.