A C172 low time private pilot goes IMC in VFR flight 10 mi northwest of orf, va.

Attributes
ACN	591412
Time
Date	200308
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : orf.airport
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : orf.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 24 flight time total : 225 flight time type : 45
ASRS Report	591412
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : provided flight assist flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Environmental Factor Airspace Structure ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On aug/tue/03, I flew my C172SP into IMC conditions. My position was 10 NM northwest of the norfolk (orf) airport. As I approached the cloud layer I realized that the bases were lower than what the WX reported, so I called the norfolk TRACON and told them I needed to return to the airport. I was IMC for about 1 min before I could stabilize the aircraft and engage the autoplt. I notified ATC that I was ready for a vector to the south. ATC turned me to the south and at about 5 mi I was VFR back to the airport. I believe I made the right decision to depart VFR based on the current WX and the forecasted WX. However, I learned 2 valuable lessons concerning WX and VFR flying. 1ST, no matter what the forecasted cloud bases are in the taf, always pay attention to the dew-point spread and use that as a cloud base estimate especially during the summer months when the air is very saturated. 2ND, always fly the plane 1ST and communicate 2ND. I should have stayed clear of the clouds by turning 180 degrees. At this point I could call ATC to make a decision to proceed to my destination or turn back to the airport. I feel I was not in any danger. The plane was under control the entire time by use of the autoplt and with ATC's help I cleared the IMC within 3-4 mins.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 LOW TIME PVT PLT GOES IMC IN VFR FLT 10 MI NW OF ORF, VA.

Narrative: ON AUG/TUE/03, I FLEW MY C172SP INTO IMC CONDITIONS. MY POS WAS 10 NM NW OF THE NORFOLK (ORF) ARPT. AS I APCHED THE CLOUD LAYER I REALIZED THAT THE BASES WERE LOWER THAN WHAT THE WX RPTED, SO I CALLED THE NORFOLK TRACON AND TOLD THEM I NEEDED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT. I WAS IMC FOR ABOUT 1 MIN BEFORE I COULD STABILIZE THE ACFT AND ENGAGE THE AUTOPLT. I NOTIFIED ATC THAT I WAS READY FOR A VECTOR TO THE S. ATC TURNED ME TO THE S AND AT ABOUT 5 MI I WAS VFR BACK TO THE ARPT. I BELIEVE I MADE THE RIGHT DECISION TO DEPART VFR BASED ON THE CURRENT WX AND THE FORECASTED WX. HOWEVER, I LEARNED 2 VALUABLE LESSONS CONCERNING WX AND VFR FLYING. 1ST, NO MATTER WHAT THE FORECASTED CLOUD BASES ARE IN THE TAF, ALWAYS PAY ATTN TO THE DEW-POINT SPREAD AND USE THAT AS A CLOUD BASE ESTIMATE ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN THE AIR IS VERY SATURATED. 2ND, ALWAYS FLY THE PLANE 1ST AND COMMUNICATE 2ND. I SHOULD HAVE STAYED CLR OF THE CLOUDS BY TURNING 180 DEGS. AT THIS POINT I COULD CALL ATC TO MAKE A DECISION TO PROCEED TO MY DEST OR TURN BACK TO THE ARPT. I FEEL I WAS NOT IN ANY DANGER. THE PLANE WAS UNDER CTL THE ENTIRE TIME BY USE OF THE AUTOPLT AND WITH ATC'S HELP I CLRED THE IMC WITHIN 3-4 MINS.

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.