A pilot canceled his IFR clearance so he could depart sooner, then was unable to maintain VFR.

Attributes
ACN	583695
Time
Date	200306
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : sunol
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nct.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skywagon 185
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : vfr
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 1500 flight time type : 1350
ASRS Report	583695
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Filed IFR, pao direct pvf. Canceled IFR before takeoff to save time because it appeared that 2000 ft cloud base was broken in direction of flight and tops were at 2500 ft. Was in radar contact with advisories. Observed 'hole' in cloud layer and advised ATC that I was climbing. 'Hole' was smaller and visibility less than expected. Encountered IMC conditions for 30-60 seconds. Was being tracked by ATC and have traffic system onboard so any potential conflict with other aircraft was reduced. To prevent: be patient, in marginal conditions, file and remain IFR, ask ATC for IFR climb when VFR and VFR climb not 100% feasible.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PLT CANCELED HIS IFR CLRNC SO HE COULD DEPART SOONER, THEN WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN VFR.

Narrative: FILED IFR, PAO DIRECT PVF. CANCELED IFR BEFORE TKOF TO SAVE TIME BECAUSE IT APPEARED THAT 2000 FT CLOUD BASE WAS BROKEN IN DIRECTION OF FLT AND TOPS WERE AT 2500 FT. WAS IN RADAR CONTACT WITH ADVISORIES. OBSERVED 'HOLE' IN CLOUD LAYER AND ADVISED ATC THAT I WAS CLBING. 'HOLE' WAS SMALLER AND VISIBILITY LESS THAN EXPECTED. ENCOUNTERED IMC CONDITIONS FOR 30-60 SECONDS. WAS BEING TRACKED BY ATC AND HAVE TFC SYS ONBOARD SO ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICT WITH OTHER ACFT WAS REDUCED. TO PREVENT: BE PATIENT, IN MARGINAL CONDITIONS, FILE AND REMAIN IFR, ASK ATC FOR IFR CLB WHEN VFR AND VFR CLB NOT 100% FEASIBLE.

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.