Narrative:

En route from S21 to uao, VFR, I requested an IFR clearance. I received a squawk code and was asked, did I want the MEA or stay at my current altitude of 8500 ft. I stayed at 8500 ft because the MEA was 12500 ft and I had at least 2000 ft terrain clearance. The controller said I would receive lower in 13 NM. I was VFR at this time and remained VFR for 20 NM. At the time I was going to request lower, I got handed off. At the time contact was made with the next controller, I had entered IMC. At the handoff, I told the controller 'with you at 8500 ft.' I did not say IFR to uao, which I should have done. The controller acknowledged with an altimeter setting but did not state 'maintain VFR.' I was IMC for 20 NM (10 mins at 140 KTS). I was now VFR between layers. At the next handoff the controller clearly stated 'maintain VFR.' I was able to do so. On my final handoff, I requested the localizer approach into uao. The controller clearly stated 'maintain VFR.' about 2 mins later, the controller cleared me to 6000 ft and I was informed I was #2 for the approach, and I was given vectors from that point up till the approach. The approach was successful with a safe landing. I didn't want to fly at 12500 ft because of hypoxia. My personal limit is 10000 ft. Because I was told I would receive lower in 13 NM and I could see at least 20 NM, I didn't consider it a problem. I should have timed the 13 NM and requested at 10 NM after initial contact. Had the second controller stated 'maintain VFR' this would have given me a heads up. However, I also should have stated IFR to uao. The confusing point was with the last controller. He did not state cleared to uao via vectors or any statement of IFR cleared, just altitude and heading. I did wonder why the second controller didn't query my VFR altitude. I should have queried him. It is clear that a pilot should never assume anything.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CESSNA 206 PLT WAS VFR IN IMC NEAR DSD.

Narrative: ENRTE FROM S21 TO UAO, VFR, I REQUESTED AN IFR CLRNC. I RECEIVED A SQUAWK CODE AND WAS ASKED, DID I WANT THE MEA OR STAY AT MY CURRENT ALT OF 8500 FT. I STAYED AT 8500 FT BECAUSE THE MEA WAS 12500 FT AND I HAD AT LEAST 2000 FT TERRAIN CLRNC. THE CTLR SAID I WOULD RECEIVE LOWER IN 13 NM. I WAS VFR AT THIS TIME AND REMAINED VFR FOR 20 NM. AT THE TIME I WAS GOING TO REQUEST LOWER, I GOT HANDED OFF. AT THE TIME CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE NEXT CTLR, I HAD ENTERED IMC. AT THE HDOF, I TOLD THE CTLR 'WITH YOU AT 8500 FT.' I DID NOT SAY IFR TO UAO, WHICH I SHOULD HAVE DONE. THE CTLR ACKNOWLEDGED WITH AN ALTIMETER SETTING BUT DID NOT STATE 'MAINTAIN VFR.' I WAS IMC FOR 20 NM (10 MINS AT 140 KTS). I WAS NOW VFR BTWN LAYERS. AT THE NEXT HDOF THE CTLR CLRLY STATED 'MAINTAIN VFR.' I WAS ABLE TO DO SO. ON MY FINAL HDOF, I REQUESTED THE LOC APCH INTO UAO. THE CTLR CLRLY STATED 'MAINTAIN VFR.' ABOUT 2 MINS LATER, THE CTLR CLRED ME TO 6000 FT AND I WAS INFORMED I WAS #2 FOR THE APCH, AND I WAS GIVEN VECTORS FROM THAT POINT UP TILL THE APCH. THE APCH WAS SUCCESSFUL WITH A SAFE LNDG. I DIDN'T WANT TO FLY AT 12500 FT BECAUSE OF HYPOXIA. MY PERSONAL LIMIT IS 10000 FT. BECAUSE I WAS TOLD I WOULD RECEIVE LOWER IN 13 NM AND I COULD SEE AT LEAST 20 NM, I DIDN'T CONSIDER IT A PROB. I SHOULD HAVE TIMED THE 13 NM AND REQUESTED AT 10 NM AFTER INITIAL CONTACT. HAD THE SECOND CTLR STATED 'MAINTAIN VFR' THIS WOULD HAVE GIVEN ME A HEADS UP. HOWEVER, I ALSO SHOULD HAVE STATED IFR TO UAO. THE CONFUSING POINT WAS WITH THE LAST CTLR. HE DID NOT STATE CLRED TO UAO VIA VECTORS OR ANY STATEMENT OF IFR CLRED, JUST ALT AND HDG. I DID WONDER WHY THE SECOND CTLR DIDN'T QUERY MY VFR ALT. I SHOULD HAVE QUERIED HIM. IT IS CLR THAT A PLT SHOULD NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING.

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.