Narrative:

On the flight in question, I contacted FSS (tanana rco) and obtained the most current WX for the galena airport prior to entering the immediate airport area. At that time galena was reporting VFR with isolated patches of ground fog. Upon approaching the galena area, I obtained visual contact of the airport and runway environment from 30 mi out at an altitude of 6500 ft and was in cavu conditions at this time. I proceeded with a visual approach and landing without any problems. In the process of unloading and refueling I perceived and observed no apparent change in sky or visibility conditions. I proceeded to take off experiencing a 15-30 second encounter with a patch of fog shortly after rotation, but was once again in cavu conditions at an altitude of 60 ft. Shortly after becoming airborne, another pilot 20 mi out informed that official WX reported prevailing visibility at 2 mi at the time of my departure. Galena airport has class east airspace to the surface, thus the field was being reported as IFR. Because of my assumption that conditions were still VFR, I had inadvertently departed without obtaining an SVFR clearance. I failed to strictly follow sound and proven procedures in always obtaining the current WX conditions prior to departure. Simply because the airport appeared to be VFR in my opinion does not excuse the failure to follow procedures. The lesson learned is to strictly adhere to and practice proper procedures and judgement and not to deviate from them no matter the perception of conditions on my behalf. I firmly believe this will eliminate another situation from arising in the future.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA32 PLT, DEPARTING GAL, AK, ENCOUNTERED A PATCH OF FOG SHORTLY AFTER ROTATION TO APPROX 60 FT.

Narrative: ON THE FLT IN QUESTION, I CONTACTED FSS (TANANA RCO) AND OBTAINED THE MOST CURRENT WX FOR THE GALENA ARPT PRIOR TO ENTERING THE IMMEDIATE ARPT AREA. AT THAT TIME GALENA WAS RPTING VFR WITH ISOLATED PATCHES OF GND FOG. UPON APCHING THE GALENA AREA, I OBTAINED VISUAL CONTACT OF THE ARPT AND RWY ENVIRONMENT FROM 30 MI OUT AT AN ALT OF 6500 FT AND WAS IN CAVU CONDITIONS AT THIS TIME. I PROCEEDED WITH A VISUAL APCH AND LNDG WITHOUT ANY PROBS. IN THE PROCESS OF UNLOADING AND REFUELING I PERCEIVED AND OBSERVED NO APPARENT CHANGE IN SKY OR VISIBILITY CONDITIONS. I PROCEEDED TO TAKE OFF EXPERIENCING A 15-30 SECOND ENCOUNTER WITH A PATCH OF FOG SHORTLY AFTER ROTATION, BUT WAS ONCE AGAIN IN CAVU CONDITIONS AT AN ALT OF 60 FT. SHORTLY AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, ANOTHER PLT 20 MI OUT INFORMED THAT OFFICIAL WX RPTED PREVAILING VISIBILITY AT 2 MI AT THE TIME OF MY DEP. GALENA ARPT HAS CLASS E AIRSPACE TO THE SURFACE, THUS THE FIELD WAS BEING RPTED AS IFR. BECAUSE OF MY ASSUMPTION THAT CONDITIONS WERE STILL VFR, I HAD INADVERTENTLY DEPARTED WITHOUT OBTAINING AN SVFR CLRNC. I FAILED TO STRICTLY FOLLOW SOUND AND PROVEN PROCS IN ALWAYS OBTAINING THE CURRENT WX CONDITIONS PRIOR TO DEP. SIMPLY BECAUSE THE ARPT APPEARED TO BE VFR IN MY OPINION DOES NOT EXCUSE THE FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCS. THE LESSON LEARNED IS TO STRICTLY ADHERE TO AND PRACTICE PROPER PROCS AND JUDGEMENT AND NOT TO DEVIATE FROM THEM NO MATTER THE PERCEPTION OF CONDITIONS ON MY BEHALF. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS WILL ELIMINATE ANOTHER SIT FROM ARISING IN THE FUTURE.

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.