C172 pilot got too close to low clouds and ground on sightseeing flight at aus.

Attributes
ACN	581818
Time
Date	200305
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : aus.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 18500 msl bound upper : 2200
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Weather Elements	other
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : aus.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 73 flight time type : 10
ASRS Report	581818
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We took off from aus under VFR conditions for a local, sightseeing flight over downtown austin. Shortly before reaching the desired altitude (2500 ft MSL), we started to encounter a cloud cover. I leveled off at 2000 ft, but after passing some clouds, decided to descend further. Figuring I had until about 1800-1900 ft (austin field elevation 542 ft and some for building ht) before I reached MSA's. As the flight continued, the clouds got lower, and I was unable to maintain proper distance from both the clouds and the ground. I decided to abort the flight and return to aus, before conditions worsened.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT GOT TOO CLOSE TO LOW CLOUDS AND GND ON SIGHTSEEING FLT AT AUS.

Narrative: WE TOOK OFF FROM AUS UNDER VFR CONDITIONS FOR A LCL, SIGHTSEEING FLT OVER DOWNTOWN AUSTIN. SHORTLY BEFORE REACHING THE DESIRED ALT (2500 FT MSL), WE STARTED TO ENCOUNTER A CLOUD COVER. I LEVELED OFF AT 2000 FT, BUT AFTER PASSING SOME CLOUDS, DECIDED TO DSND FURTHER. FIGURING I HAD UNTIL ABOUT 1800-1900 FT (AUSTIN FIELD ELEVATION 542 FT AND SOME FOR BUILDING HT) BEFORE I REACHED MSA'S. AS THE FLT CONTINUED, THE CLOUDS GOT LOWER, AND I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN PROPER DISTANCE FROM BOTH THE CLOUDS AND THE GND. I DECIDED TO ABORT THE FLT AND RETURN TO AUS, BEFORE CONDITIONS WORSENED.

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.