A BE35 pilot inadvertently entered IMC conditions while flying VFR and encountered a bird strike.

Attributes
ACN	585196
Time
Date	200306
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zse.artcc tower : abq.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Bonanza 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 27.6 flight time total : 1017 flight time type : 528
ASRS Report	585196
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : birds non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed as precaution flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	other Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Environmental Factor Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

I departed medford, or, jun/thu/03, approximately XA45, flew south en route to fullerton, ca. Climbing through 3500 ft in the vicinity of weed, ca, I looked down at my charts to confirm my location. When I looked up I had entered a cloud. Shortly thereafter I heard and felt a thump on the aircraft, immediately commenced a climb. In short order I was in clear air and was unable to see any damage to the wings nor any change in normal performance of the aircraft. As the flight progressed, I thought I might have experienced a bird strike and decided to land when the hazy ground conditions improved so I could safely land. After landing at colusa county airport I saw substantial damage to the right wing near the base of the right wing and right stabilizer. Tied the plane down and called the insurance company. Lack of proper sleep contributing to impaired judgement were other factors.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BE35 PLT INADVERTENTLY ENTERED IMC CONDITIONS WHILE FLYING VFR AND ENCOUNTERED A BIRD STRIKE.

Narrative: I DEPARTED MEDFORD, OR, JUN/THU/03, APPROX XA45, FLEW S ENRTE TO FULLERTON, CA. CLBING THROUGH 3500 FT IN THE VICINITY OF WEED, CA, I LOOKED DOWN AT MY CHARTS TO CONFIRM MY LOCATION. WHEN I LOOKED UP I HAD ENTERED A CLOUD. SHORTLY THEREAFTER I HEARD AND FELT A THUMP ON THE ACFT, IMMEDIATELY COMMENCED A CLB. IN SHORT ORDER I WAS IN CLR AIR AND WAS UNABLE TO SEE ANY DAMAGE TO THE WINGS NOR ANY CHANGE IN NORMAL PERFORMANCE OF THE ACFT. AS THE FLT PROGRESSED, I THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE EXPERIENCED A BIRD STRIKE AND DECIDED TO LAND WHEN THE HAZY GND CONDITIONS IMPROVED SO I COULD SAFELY LAND. AFTER LNDG AT COLUSA COUNTY ARPT I SAW SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE R WING NEAR THE BASE OF THE R WING AND R STABILIZER. TIED THE PLANE DOWN AND CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY. LACK OF PROPER SLEEP CONTRIBUTING TO IMPAIRED JUDGEMENT WERE OTHER FACTORS.

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.