Narrative:

WX was reported to be 2300 ft overcast and 3 mi visibility on a VFR night reposition flight from sns to mry where the WX was also VFR. I thought that there were no clouds on the departure end of runway 8 and on right downwind south of the airport. Just after initiating the crosswind turn, we came very near some clouds. I transitioned to instruments for a few moments until we were in VMC again. We then contacted sierra approach and picked up our IFR clearance when we received a vector and climb to a westerly IFR altitude. At no time was the aircraft in any danger. It does serve to remind me that VFR flight at night in marginal VFR WX is not a very smart plan of action. For any future flts, I will pick up my IFR clearance prior to departure.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C550 LNDG MRY ENCOUNTERS IMC CONDITIONS WHILE OPERATING VFR.

Narrative: WX WAS RPTED TO BE 2300 FT OVCST AND 3 MI VISIBILITY ON A VFR NIGHT REPOSITION FLT FROM SNS TO MRY WHERE THE WX WAS ALSO VFR. I THOUGHT THAT THERE WERE NO CLOUDS ON THE DEP END OF RWY 8 AND ON R DOWNWIND S OF THE ARPT. JUST AFTER INITIATING THE XWIND TURN, WE CAME VERY NEAR SOME CLOUDS. I TRANSITIONED TO INSTS FOR A FEW MOMENTS UNTIL WE WERE IN VMC AGAIN. WE THEN CONTACTED SIERRA APCH AND PICKED UP OUR IFR CLRNC WHEN WE RECEIVED A VECTOR AND CLB TO A WESTERLY IFR ALT. AT NO TIME WAS THE ACFT IN ANY DANGER. IT DOES SERVE TO REMIND ME THAT VFR FLT AT NIGHT IN MARGINAL VFR WX IS NOT A VERY SMART PLAN OF ACTION. FOR ANY FUTURE FLTS, I WILL PICK UP MY IFR CLRNC PRIOR TO DEP.

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.