Narrative:

Myself and 3 other passenger departed abq approximately XA00 hours for maneuvers in the northwest practice area. At time of takeoff, conditions were good. Part-way into the flight, I noticed the ceiling dropping and decided to turn back. When I contacted approach, they informed me that the field was IFR. Not wanting to take the risk with double eagle ii, I was persistent with approach, and they declared an emergency. They gave me vectors for approach, and I tried my best to stay within VFR. I successfully landed without incident, and my passenger were unaware of the emergency until they left the aircraft. After landing, I discovered that my incompetence in reading a 'taf' report led to my decision. I had incorrectly read the report, and in doing so, accept full responsibility for my actions. I plan to study my capabilities so that nothing like this will ever happen again.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT HAD THE APCH CTLR DECLARE AN EMER WHEN THE PLT ENCOUNTERED IMC CONDITIONS TRYING TO GET BACK TO THE DEP STATION.

Narrative: MYSELF AND 3 OTHER PAX DEPARTED ABQ APPROX XA00 HRS FOR MANEUVERS IN THE NW PRACTICE AREA. AT TIME OF TKOF, CONDITIONS WERE GOOD. PART-WAY INTO THE FLT, I NOTICED THE CEILING DROPPING AND DECIDED TO TURN BACK. WHEN I CONTACTED APCH, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE FIELD WAS IFR. NOT WANTING TO TAKE THE RISK WITH DOUBLE EAGLE II, I WAS PERSISTENT WITH APCH, AND THEY DECLARED AN EMER. THEY GAVE ME VECTORS FOR APCH, AND I TRIED MY BEST TO STAY WITHIN VFR. I SUCCESSFULLY LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT, AND MY PAX WERE UNAWARE OF THE EMER UNTIL THEY LEFT THE ACFT. AFTER LNDG, I DISCOVERED THAT MY INCOMPETENCE IN READING A 'TAF' RPT LED TO MY DECISION. I HAD INCORRECTLY READ THE RPT, AND IN DOING SO, ACCEPT FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY ACTIONS. I PLAN TO STUDY MY CAPABILITIES SO THAT NOTHING LIKE THIS WILL EVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

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.