New GA pilot misjudges distances of clouds in pattern at tul.

Attributes
ACN	431481
Time
Date	199903
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tul.airport
State Reference	OK
Altitude	msl single value : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 73 flight time type : 45
ASRS Report	431481
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Took off from rvs to tul. Approximately 11 NM VFR conditions existed with 3500 ft overcast 8 mi visibility until tul. On downwind, I flew into a cloud. I made a standard 180 degree turn out of it then came in for short approach, landing safely. On such a short flight I only got the ATIS for rvs and tul. Not getting a standard briefing got me in a pinch. A corrective action would be to get a standard briefing whenever you fly away from the vicinity of the airport. I simply underestimated how fast the clouds would or could have moved in.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NEW GA PLT MISJUDGES DISTANCES OF CLOUDS IN PATTERN AT TUL.

Narrative: TOOK OFF FROM RVS TO TUL. APPROX 11 NM VFR CONDITIONS EXISTED WITH 3500 FT OVCST 8 MI VISIBILITY UNTIL TUL. ON DOWNWIND, I FLEW INTO A CLOUD. I MADE A STANDARD 180 DEG TURN OUT OF IT THEN CAME IN FOR SHORT APCH, LNDG SAFELY. ON SUCH A SHORT FLT I ONLY GOT THE ATIS FOR RVS AND TUL. NOT GETTING A STANDARD BRIEFING GOT ME IN A PINCH. A CORRECTIVE ACTION WOULD BE TO GET A STANDARD BRIEFING WHENEVER YOU FLY AWAY FROM THE VICINITY OF THE ARPT. I SIMPLY UNDERESTIMATED HOW FAST THE CLOUDS WOULD OR COULD HAVE MOVED IN.

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.