A C172 pilot entered IFR flight conditions prior to receiving a clearance near dfw.

Attributes
ACN	441908
Time
Date	199907
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2200 msl bound upper : 2300
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d10.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 219 flight time type : 17
ASRS Report	441908
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Before departure, received a class B clearance to overfly dfw airport at 3500 ft MSL. While crossing dfw, the controller began my descent to 2500 ft. The descent path had a very large open/cloud free area, however, I was unable to remain clear of clouds without significantly disrupting dfw commercial traffic or communications. Additionally, I was unable to advise controller before entering the cloud due to heavy communications. I notified ATC when able, and told them that I would execute a 180 degree turn if necessary. Approach/ATC told me to maintain heading and asked if I am/was instrument rated. I replied yes. He said no problem, your IFR clearance is to maintain a heading of 050 degrees and descend to 2000 ft MSL. I broke through the clouds at 2000 ft, advised him of the VFR conditions and continued VFR to addison. Not a problem, he replied.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 PLT ENTERED IFR FLT CONDITIONS PRIOR TO RECEIVING A CLRNC NEAR DFW.

Narrative: BEFORE DEP, RECEIVED A CLASS B CLRNC TO OVERFLY DFW ARPT AT 3500 FT MSL. WHILE XING DFW, THE CTLR BEGAN MY DSCNT TO 2500 FT. THE DSCNT PATH HAD A VERY LARGE OPEN/CLOUD FREE AREA, HOWEVER, I WAS UNABLE TO REMAIN CLR OF CLOUDS WITHOUT SIGNIFICANTLY DISRUPTING DFW COMMERCIAL TFC OR COMS. ADDITIONALLY, I WAS UNABLE TO ADVISE CTLR BEFORE ENTERING THE CLOUD DUE TO HVY COMS. I NOTIFIED ATC WHEN ABLE, AND TOLD THEM THAT I WOULD EXECUTE A 180 DEG TURN IF NECESSARY. APCH/ATC TOLD ME TO MAINTAIN HDG AND ASKED IF I AM/WAS INST RATED. I REPLIED YES. HE SAID NO PROB, YOUR IFR CLRNC IS TO MAINTAIN A HDG OF 050 DEGS AND DSND TO 2000 FT MSL. I BROKE THROUGH THE CLOUDS AT 2000 FT, ADVISED HIM OF THE VFR CONDITIONS AND CONTINUED VFR TO ADDISON. NOT A PROB, HE REPLIED.

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.