A C172 CFI flew VFR in IMC in the pattern at san.

Attributes
ACN	587537
Time
Date	200307
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : san.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl single value : 700
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : san.tower
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern arrival : vfr
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 1575 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	587537
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : trainee
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

A student and I were on a VFR cross country flight from torrance, ca (toa) to san diego, ca (san). We were approximately. 20 mi north of san diego when we listened to the ATIS at san. The lowest cloud layer was reported to be scattered at 900 ft. When we arrived at (san), we found the clouds to be slightly lower than 900 ft and the layer had turned to overcast. Unable to maintain VFR at tpa, we descended to 700 ft AGL to avoid entering IMC. Of course, if an airport has an overcast ceiling of 900 ft, the WX is considered IFR. We were not on an IFR clearance. We did, however, remain in VMC at all times and had no further incidents. Had we checked ATIS when we got closer to san, or if ATC had advised us of the new ATIS, or if we had been advised that the field was going IFR, we would have turned back to torrance (toa).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 CFI FLEW VFR IN IMC IN THE PATTERN AT SAN.

Narrative: A STUDENT AND I WERE ON A VFR XCOUNTRY FLT FROM TORRANCE, CA (TOA) TO SAN DIEGO, CA (SAN). WE WERE APPROX. 20 MI N OF SAN DIEGO WHEN WE LISTENED TO THE ATIS AT SAN. THE LOWEST CLOUD LAYER WAS RPTED TO BE SCATTERED AT 900 FT. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT (SAN), WE FOUND THE CLOUDS TO BE SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN 900 FT AND THE LAYER HAD TURNED TO OVCST. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN VFR AT TPA, WE DSNDED TO 700 FT AGL TO AVOID ENTERING IMC. OF COURSE, IF AN ARPT HAS AN OVCST CEILING OF 900 FT, THE WX IS CONSIDERED IFR. WE WERE NOT ON AN IFR CLRNC. WE DID, HOWEVER, REMAIN IN VMC AT ALL TIMES AND HAD NO FURTHER INCIDENTS. HAD WE CHKED ATIS WHEN WE GOT CLOSER TO SAN, OR IF ATC HAD ADVISED US OF THE NEW ATIS, OR IF WE HAD BEEN ADVISED THAT THE FIELD WAS GOING IFR, WE WOULD HAVE TURNED BACK TO TORRANCE (TOA).

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.