Inadvertent entry from VFR flight conditions to IMC leads small aircraft pilot to potential CFIT.

Attributes
ACN	437396
Time
Date	199905
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : fay.vor
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl single value : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : fay.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 280 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	437396
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : landed as precaution
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On my way to fay airport for refueling, fay ATIS was reporting high ceiling and 10 mi visibility. Approaching fay from the southwest, I had to descend to 1000 ft to remain VFR and I contacted fay approach for landing. Approximately 8 mi from the airport, visibility started decreasing rapidly with heavy rain. I advised approach control I was going to do a 180 degree turn and land at a different airport due to poor visibility. After turning around I encountered much lower visibility and rain. I descended to about 800 ft MSL and entered broken clouds for approximately 10-15 seconds. Approach control advised me of a tower at my 12 O'clock and 2 mi and advised me of a heading to avoid it suggested landing at 5w4. Shortly thereafter, I returned to VMC conditions and landed uneventfully at 5w4.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INADVERTENT ENTRY FROM VFR FLT CONDITIONS TO IMC LEADS SMA PLT TO POTENTIAL CFIT.

Narrative: ON MY WAY TO FAY ARPT FOR REFUELING, FAY ATIS WAS RPTING HIGH CEILING AND 10 MI VISIBILITY. APCHING FAY FROM THE SW, I HAD TO DSND TO 1000 FT TO REMAIN VFR AND I CONTACTED FAY APCH FOR LNDG. APPROX 8 MI FROM THE ARPT, VISIBILITY STARTED DECREASING RAPIDLY WITH HVY RAIN. I ADVISED APCH CTL I WAS GOING TO DO A 180 DEG TURN AND LAND AT A DIFFERENT ARPT DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY. AFTER TURNING AROUND I ENCOUNTERED MUCH LOWER VISIBILITY AND RAIN. I DSNDED TO ABOUT 800 FT MSL AND ENTERED BROKEN CLOUDS FOR APPROX 10-15 SECONDS. APCH CTL ADVISED ME OF A TWR AT MY 12 O'CLOCK AND 2 MI AND ADVISED ME OF A HDG TO AVOID IT SUGGESTED LNDG AT 5W4. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I RETURNED TO VMC CONDITIONS AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY AT 5W4.

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.