A GA pilot goes IMC in VFR flight on a cross country flight while 22 mi west of ena VOR, ak.

Attributes
ACN	524953
Time
Date	200109
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ena.vor
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl single value : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zan.artcc
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Bellanca Aircraft Corp Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 33 flight time total : 7453 flight time type : 256
ASRS Report	524953
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : diverted to another airport other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While on a VFR flight from soldotna to naknek via the lake clark pass, I inadvertently encountered IMC flight conditions, declared an emergency as I was flying IFR without my required currency (IFR) and an aircraft not signed off for IFR operations (does have full gyro panel). Zan cleared me as requested, direct to the soldotna (olt). I was able to cancel IFR 2 NM northeast of the soldotna airport which was VFR. I still find it hard to believe that I got caught IFR. I was between layers navigating west planning to encounter the 6000 ft ceiling and 30 mi visibility reported by palu (see attached). However, my flight visibility started to get fuzzy. I made a 180 degree turn and was solid.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A GA PLT GOES IMC IN VFR FLT ON A XCOUNTRY FLT WHILE 22 MI W OF ENA VOR, AK.

Narrative: WHILE ON A VFR FLT FROM SOLDOTNA TO NAKNEK VIA THE LAKE CLARK PASS, I INADVERTENTLY ENCOUNTERED IMC FLT CONDITIONS, DECLARED AN EMER AS I WAS FLYING IFR WITHOUT MY REQUIRED CURRENCY (IFR) AND AN ACFT NOT SIGNED OFF FOR IFR OPS (DOES HAVE FULL GYRO PANEL). ZAN CLRED ME AS REQUESTED, DIRECT TO THE SOLDOTNA (OLT). I WAS ABLE TO CANCEL IFR 2 NM NE OF THE SOLDOTNA ARPT WHICH WAS VFR. I STILL FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT I GOT CAUGHT IFR. I WAS BTWN LAYERS NAVING W PLANNING TO ENCOUNTER THE 6000 FT CEILING AND 30 MI VISIBILITY RPTED BY PALU (SEE ATTACHED). HOWEVER, MY FLT VISIBILITY STARTED TO GET FUZZY. I MADE A 180 DEG TURN AND WAS SOLID.

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.