A VFR flight is made without consideration of cloud clearance requirements.

Attributes
ACN	489990
Time
Date	200010
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	VT
Altitude	msl single value : 7500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Bonanza 36
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 1300 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	489990
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Departed btv VFR with flight following to owd. (I had checked WX and understood scattered at btv to owd, so didn't file IFR as I usually do.) requested to climb through solid layer approximately 6500 ft to VFR on top with btv departure control. They were very helpful and allowed this. I reported clear at approximately 7200-7300 ft and requested VFR level at 7500 ft to owd. They agreed. I was handed off all the way to bos with no problems. I even checked WX at owd with advisory while en route and filed a PIREP 'smooth ride at 7500 ft and clear.' the tops continued to lower as I continued south. However, I am so accustomed to flying IFR, I didn't realize until after landing I only had approximately 300-400 ft clearance above the tops initially. Although this distance quickly increased as I flew south, I need to remember the VFR basics! 1000 ft above.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A VFR FLT IS MADE WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF CLOUD CLRNC REQUIREMENTS.

Narrative: DEPARTED BTV VFR WITH FLT FOLLOWING TO OWD. (I HAD CHKED WX AND UNDERSTOOD SCATTERED AT BTV TO OWD, SO DIDN'T FILE IFR AS I USUALLY DO.) REQUESTED TO CLB THROUGH SOLID LAYER APPROX 6500 FT TO VFR ON TOP WITH BTV DEP CTL. THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL AND ALLOWED THIS. I RPTED CLR AT APPROX 7200-7300 FT AND REQUESTED VFR LEVEL AT 7500 FT TO OWD. THEY AGREED. I WAS HANDED OFF ALL THE WAY TO BOS WITH NO PROBS. I EVEN CHKED WX AT OWD WITH ADVISORY WHILE ENRTE AND FILED A PIREP 'SMOOTH RIDE AT 7500 FT AND CLR.' THE TOPS CONTINUED TO LOWER AS I CONTINUED S. HOWEVER, I AM SO ACCUSTOMED TO FLYING IFR, I DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL AFTER LNDG I ONLY HAD APPROX 300-400 FT CLRNC ABOVE THE TOPS INITIALLY. ALTHOUGH THIS DISTANCE QUICKLY INCREASED AS I FLEW S, I NEED TO REMEMBER THE VFR BASICS! 1000 FT ABOVE.

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.