Small aircraft pilot, without instrument rating allowed himself to be trapped by clouds and fog and ...

Attributes
ACN	581339
Time
Date	200305
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ttn.airport
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Fog
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change cruise : level ground : maintenance
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 4 flight time total : 600 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	581339
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Left hammonton, destination robbinson trenton. 5 mi from destination, encountered low fog. Turned south for camden county airport and encountered declining ceiling. Could not turn back and decided to ascend through fog coverage. At 5000 ft, called phl for assistance. They suggested I continue to 10000 ft and set a heading of 240 degrees. They turned me over to ny control. Ny control vectored me for 260 degrees and suggested I descend to 9500 ft. Ny switched me to mcguire control who vectored me toward atlantic city and descend to 2500 ft where I broke out of cloud coverage. Mcguire vectored me to camden county airport (N19) where I landed. I had onboard 6 hours of fuel at takeoff. Therefore, at no time was my flight at real risk. I was in contact with control at all times after I was forced to go IFR. In the future, even on short pleasure flts, I will check current WX at destination.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT, WITHOUT INST RATING ALLOWED HIMSELF TO BE TRAPPED BY CLOUDS AND FOG AND FLEW IMC IN VFR FLT.

Narrative: LEFT HAMMONTON, DEST ROBBINSON TRENTON. 5 MI FROM DEST, ENCOUNTERED LOW FOG. TURNED S FOR CAMDEN COUNTY ARPT AND ENCOUNTERED DECLINING CEILING. COULD NOT TURN BACK AND DECIDED TO ASCEND THROUGH FOG COVERAGE. AT 5000 FT, CALLED PHL FOR ASSISTANCE. THEY SUGGESTED I CONTINUE TO 10000 FT AND SET A HEADING OF 240 DEGS. THEY TURNED ME OVER TO NY CTL. NY CTL VECTORED ME FOR 260 DEGS AND SUGGESTED I DSND TO 9500 FT. NY SWITCHED ME TO MCGUIRE CTL WHO VECTORED ME TOWARD ATLANTIC CITY AND DSND TO 2500 FT WHERE I BROKE OUT OF CLOUD COVERAGE. MCGUIRE VECTORED ME TO CAMDEN COUNTY ARPT (N19) WHERE I LANDED. I HAD ONBOARD 6 HRS OF FUEL AT TKOF. THEREFORE, AT NO TIME WAS MY FLT AT REAL RISK. I WAS IN CONTACT WITH CTL AT ALL TIMES AFTER I WAS FORCED TO GO IFR. IN THE FUTURE, EVEN ON SHORT PLEASURE FLTS, I WILL CHK CURRENT WX AT DEST.

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.

Small aircraft pilot, without instrument rating allowed himself to be trapped by clouds and fog and flew IMC in VFR flight.