Cessna pilot flies into rain, turbulence and thunderstorm on VFR flight. Emergency declared and flig...

Attributes
ACN	443404
Time
Date	199907
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : grb.airport
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl single value : 7500
Environment
Weather Elements	Ice Turbulence Thunderstorm
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 34 flight time total : 335 flight time type : 288
ASRS Report	443404
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel
Qualification	other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to alternate
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather Aircraft
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

I was southeast of rhinelander, wi at 7500 ft VFR and was aware of a line of WX reported from mason city, ia to marquette, mi. Approximately 70 mi north of green bay, wi, I called FSS on 122.55 and requested WX update. I was advised that VFR conditions should prevail on into green bay airport. Approximately 60 mi north of green bay I encountered light rain which turned into strong turbulence. I called FSS and reported disorientation and difficulty in holding course and altitude. FSS was extremely helpful and requested I squawk 7700. Then my radio went out and my VOR, which was caused by moisture coming in from wing vents. I had great difficulty reducing altitude due to rapidly rising air. Gradually I was able to get down to 5000 ft which placed me back under the WX and into VFR conditions and out of the developing thunderstorm. Portable GPS was only NAVAID which indicated closest airport to be marinette/menominee mi which was approximately 15 mi. I landed without radio assistance. I phoned green bay FSS at once and reported conclusion of emergency flight. Green bay FSS was courteous, helpful and made a major effort to determine our condition and safety. They should be praised for their efforts. Radio has been repaired -- also I have enrolled in a program for additional instrument training.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CESSNA PLT FLIES INTO RAIN, TURB AND TSTM ON VFR FLT. EMER DECLARED AND FLT SVC GIVES ASSIST TO SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME.

Narrative: I WAS SE OF RHINELANDER, WI AT 7500 FT VFR AND WAS AWARE OF A LINE OF WX RPTED FROM MASON CITY, IA TO MARQUETTE, MI. APPROX 70 MI N OF GREEN BAY, WI, I CALLED FSS ON 122.55 AND REQUESTED WX UPDATE. I WAS ADVISED THAT VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD PREVAIL ON INTO GREEN BAY ARPT. APPROX 60 MI N OF GREEN BAY I ENCOUNTERED LIGHT RAIN WHICH TURNED INTO STRONG TURB. I CALLED FSS AND RPTED DISORIENTATION AND DIFFICULTY IN HOLDING COURSE AND ALT. FSS WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND REQUESTED I SQUAWK 7700. THEN MY RADIO WENT OUT AND MY VOR, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY MOISTURE COMING IN FROM WING VENTS. I HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY REDUCING ALT DUE TO RAPIDLY RISING AIR. GRADUALLY I WAS ABLE TO GET DOWN TO 5000 FT WHICH PLACED ME BACK UNDER THE WX AND INTO VFR CONDITIONS AND OUT OF THE DEVELOPING TSTM. PORTABLE GPS WAS ONLY NAVAID WHICH INDICATED CLOSEST ARPT TO BE MARINETTE/MENOMINEE MI WHICH WAS APPROX 15 MI. I LANDED WITHOUT RADIO ASSISTANCE. I PHONED GREEN BAY FSS AT ONCE AND RPTED CONCLUSION OF EMER FLT. GREEN BAY FSS WAS COURTEOUS, HELPFUL AND MADE A MAJOR EFFORT TO DETERMINE OUR CONDITION AND SAFETY. THEY SHOULD BE PRAISED FOR THEIR EFFORTS. RADIO HAS BEEN REPAIRED -- ALSO I HAVE ENROLLED IN A PROGRAM FOR ADDITIONAL INST TRAINING.

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.

Cessna pilot flies into rain, turbulence and thunderstorm on VFR flight. Emergency declared and flight service gives assist to successful outcome.