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Private pilot of a C172 flew into fog during a cross country trip resulting in request to ARTCC controller for assistance.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 498411 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200101 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : pfs.airport |
| State Reference | MA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 3100 msl bound upper : 5000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Marginal |
| Weather Elements | Fog Snow |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zbw.artcc |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Route In Use | enroute : direct |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 6 flight time total : 105 flight time type : 16 |
| ASRS Report | 498411 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : provided flight assist other |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Weather |
| Primary Problem | Weather |
Narrative:
On my way from pittsfield, ma, to keene, nh, I flew into thick fog. I told ZBW that my visibility was greatly reduced and that I would need radar vectors to keene. The ATC controller had me climb to 5000 ft because of mountain obscuration. About 5 mi from keene, the WX improved and I descended back to 3100 ft. I know that I made a poor decision by continuing on to keene. I should have turned back around to pittsfield and called someone to come get me. I also did not think about icing when I was flying through the fog. I should have turned on the pitot heat and checked the wings and wheels for ice. If I ever encounter a situation like this again, I will be smarter about what to do.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PVT PLT OF A C172 FLEW INTO FOG DURING A XCOUNTRY TRIP RESULTING IN REQUEST TO ARTCC CTLR FOR ASSISTANCE.
Narrative: ON MY WAY FROM PITTSFIELD, MA, TO KEENE, NH, I FLEW INTO THICK FOG. I TOLD ZBW THAT MY VISIBILITY WAS GREATLY REDUCED AND THAT I WOULD NEED RADAR VECTORS TO KEENE. THE ATC CTLR HAD ME CLB TO 5000 FT BECAUSE OF MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION. ABOUT 5 MI FROM KEENE, THE WX IMPROVED AND I DSNDED BACK TO 3100 FT. I KNOW THAT I MADE A POOR DECISION BY CONTINUING ON TO KEENE. I SHOULD HAVE TURNED BACK AROUND TO PITTSFIELD AND CALLED SOMEONE TO COME GET ME. I ALSO DID NOT THINK ABOUT ICING WHEN I WAS FLYING THROUGH THE FOG. I SHOULD HAVE TURNED ON THE PITOT HEAT AND CHKED THE WINGS AND WHEELS FOR ICE. IF I EVER ENCOUNTER A SIT LIKE THIS AGAIN, I WILL BE SMARTER ABOUT WHAT TO DO.
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.