Narrative:

After clearing customs at bli, I chose to proceed on the last leg of the trip under VFR. The leg would take 35-40 mins and the departure was 3000+ ft ceiling and good visibility as was bfi, which is very close to S50, the destination. Approximately 1/2 way, I transitioned pae's class D airspace. Pae was reporting a ceiling of 1600 ft but I was forced to descend to approximately 1000 ft AGL to maintain VMC. Visibility was good but deteriorating. I listened to ATIS at rnt, now less than 15 NM ahead and rnt was reporting better than 3000 ft and 10 NM. Local familiarity with the area and knowledge of the WX ahead caused me to assume the WX not too bad to continue. I was also on the approach corridor and using the rnt NDB to navigation. For a period of 6-7 NM and 2.5 - 3 mins, I continued the flight in less than VMC conditions. I should have turned around at pae and possibly circled 10-15 NM to the west or talked to center or sea approach and received a clearance. 'Never again' I think is the saying!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT FLEW VFR IN IMC CONDITIONS.

Narrative: AFTER CLRING CUSTOMS AT BLI, I CHOSE TO PROCEED ON THE LAST LEG OF THE TRIP UNDER VFR. THE LEG WOULD TAKE 35-40 MINS AND THE DEP WAS 3000+ FT CEILING AND GOOD VISIBILITY AS WAS BFI, WHICH IS VERY CLOSE TO S50, THE DEST. APPROX 1/2 WAY, I TRANSITIONED PAE'S CLASS D AIRSPACE. PAE WAS RPTING A CEILING OF 1600 FT BUT I WAS FORCED TO DSND TO APPROX 1000 FT AGL TO MAINTAIN VMC. VISIBILITY WAS GOOD BUT DETERIORATING. I LISTENED TO ATIS AT RNT, NOW LESS THAN 15 NM AHEAD AND RNT WAS RPTING BETTER THAN 3000 FT AND 10 NM. LCL FAMILIARITY WITH THE AREA AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE WX AHEAD CAUSED ME TO ASSUME THE WX NOT TOO BAD TO CONTINUE. I WAS ALSO ON THE APCH CORRIDOR AND USING THE RNT NDB TO NAV. FOR A PERIOD OF 6-7 NM AND 2.5 - 3 MINS, I CONTINUED THE FLT IN LESS THAN VMC CONDITIONS. I SHOULD HAVE TURNED AROUND AT PAE AND POSSIBLY CIRCLED 10-15 NM TO THE W OR TALKED TO CTR OR SEA APCH AND RECEIVED A CLRNC. 'NEVER AGAIN' I THINK IS THE SAYING!

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.