A commercial instrument rated pilot flying a PA28 from cmh to W29 encounters WX en route resulting in precautionary landing at anp. Pilot had communication problems and possibly deviated from ATC clrncs while trying to maintain VMC conditions.

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Attributes
ACN	439978
Time
Date	199906
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : bwi.tracon
State Reference	MD
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bwi.tracon tower : bos.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee Arrow IV
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 1600 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	439978
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Returning from cmh to W29 destination was below a cloud deck. Forecast had been for good VFR. Was not IFR current and declined offer of IFR clearance from ATC (baltimore approach). Returned to the northwest of the class B airspace and descended below the cloud deck in VFR conditions. While returning to W29 I thought we were cleared to baltimore then W29. Apparently, the VFR clearance was to fort meade then W29. The controller advised me of the mistake and issued a vector to fort meade. I am assuming that I did make a mistake. While trying to get the navigation to the new destination worked out we missed a frequency change. All of this was happening while trying to stay VFR. In all fairness the controllers were great. I was returning from columbus after working the last 4 days at a trade show. I was up at early am that morning to return to baltimore. WX was checked before departing and en route. All reports were for good VFR. By the time I reached the annapolis area ceiling was down to 1000 ft with rain and decided enough was enough. Landed at the lee airport absolutely exhausted. I was surprised at my fatigue. I do feel that I made good decisions in staying VFR, staying legal and landing when I did. Unfortunately I may have missed or misunderstood a clearance and frequency change.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A COMMERCIAL INST RATED PLT FLYING A PA28 FROM CMH TO W29 ENCOUNTERS WX ENRTE RESULTING IN PRECAUTIONARY LNDG AT ANP. PLT HAD COM PROBS AND POSSIBLY DEVIATED FROM ATC CLRNCS WHILE TRYING TO MAINTAIN VMC CONDITIONS.

Narrative: RETURNING FROM CMH TO W29 DEST WAS BELOW A CLOUD DECK. FORECAST HAD BEEN FOR GOOD VFR. WAS NOT IFR CURRENT AND DECLINED OFFER OF IFR CLRNC FROM ATC (BALTIMORE APCH). RETURNED TO THE NW OF THE CLASS B AIRSPACE AND DSNDED BELOW THE CLOUD DECK IN VFR CONDITIONS. WHILE RETURNING TO W29 I THOUGHT WE WERE CLRED TO BALTIMORE THEN W29. APPARENTLY, THE VFR CLRNC WAS TO FORT MEADE THEN W29. THE CTLR ADVISED ME OF THE MISTAKE AND ISSUED A VECTOR TO FORT MEADE. I AM ASSUMING THAT I DID MAKE A MISTAKE. WHILE TRYING TO GET THE NAV TO THE NEW DEST WORKED OUT WE MISSED A FREQ CHANGE. ALL OF THIS WAS HAPPENING WHILE TRYING TO STAY VFR. IN ALL FAIRNESS THE CTLRS WERE GREAT. I WAS RETURNING FROM COLUMBUS AFTER WORKING THE LAST 4 DAYS AT A TRADE SHOW. I WAS UP AT EARLY AM THAT MORNING TO RETURN TO BALTIMORE. WX WAS CHKED BEFORE DEPARTING AND ENRTE. ALL RPTS WERE FOR GOOD VFR. BY THE TIME I REACHED THE ANNAPOLIS AREA CEILING WAS DOWN TO 1000 FT WITH RAIN AND DECIDED ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH. LANDED AT THE LEE ARPT ABSOLUTELY EXHAUSTED. I WAS SURPRISED AT MY FATIGUE. I DO FEEL THAT I MADE GOOD DECISIONS IN STAYING VFR, STAYING LEGAL AND LNDG WHEN I DID. UNFORTUNATELY I MAY HAVE MISSED OR MISUNDERSTOOD A CLRNC AND FREQ CHANGE.

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.