A C172 pilot 'VFR' in 'IMC.'

Attributes
ACN	533078
Time
Date	200112
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sbp.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla.artcc tower : sbp.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 5.2 flight time total : 433 flight time type : 370
ASRS Report	533078
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : provided flight assist flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Rtn flight to sbp and found clouds around mountains. Sbp reported VFR and gave instructions to report downwind for runway 11. I turned south to get to what looked like a pass of VFR under clouds and between mountains, and shortly VFR want to IFR. I climbed and called la center as told by sbp tower, center directed me to 7000 ft, sbp, santa maria, and finally to santa ynez for a VOR landing. I should have checked WX on ground before departure for rtn flight. I could not open my flight plan on rtn flight with frequency given XXX.65 or YYY.2. I should have contacted other control to open flight plan.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 PLT 'VFR' IN 'IMC.'

Narrative: RTN FLT TO SBP AND FOUND CLOUDS AROUND MOUNTAINS. SBP RPTED VFR AND GAVE INSTRUCTIONS TO RPT DOWNWIND FOR RWY 11. I TURNED SOUTH TO GET TO WHAT LOOKED LIKE A PASS OF VFR UNDER CLOUDS AND BETWEEN MOUNTAINS, AND SHORTLY VFR WANT TO IFR. I CLBED AND CALLED LA CENTER AS TOLD BY SBP TWR, CENTER DIRECTED ME TO 7000 FT, SBP, SANTA MARIA, AND FINALLY TO SANTA YNEZ FOR A VOR LNDG. I SHOULD HAVE CHECKED WX ON GND BEFORE DEP FOR RTN FLT. I COULD NOT OPEN MY FLT PLAN ON RTN FLT WITH FREQ GIVEN XXX.65 OR YYY.2. I SHOULD HAVE CONTACTED OTHER CTL TO OPEN FLT PLAN.

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.