Narrative:

On nov/wed/03, I departed delhi between XA30 and XB00. I contacted local FSS, deridder (122.2) and requested information about WX from and between delhi, la, and ft smith. I was informed that a stalled stationary front included ft smith, ar, and current conditions were IFR. I departed delhi under VFR conditions. VFR conditions existed until 90-100 mi south of ft smith. I tracked the WX via numerous AWOS/ASOS reports during flight. A critical decision fostered by 'I gotta get there'itis was made at 'hot springs.' hot springs reported marginal VFR. I continued towards ft smith believing that conditions would surely improve. There was frequent breaks and conditions remained marginal VFR till 30-40 mi south of ft smith. WX rapidly deteriorated and I had to be vectored around a thunderstorm. I knew at this point that I had made a wrong decision. I was now risking my life and was wishing I had landed in hot springs. I received WX information per sallisaw, ok, ceilings of 1000 ft noted. I attempted NDB approach to sallisaw without success. After discussion with approach and with 22-24 gals of fuel I was given permission to land with vectored ILS approach at ft smith, ar (fsm). With the help of an experienced pilot giving direction, a safe landing was performed. I have been flying for a number of yrs. I learned an invaluable lesson of how fast WX can close in, how stupid it is to 'assume' the WX will clear. I ignored the laws of GA. I came out of this situation a better and smarter pilot. I have started plans to achieve my IFR ticket in the next 2 months. I used very poor judgement, a decision I feel was pressured by the fact I had a commercial plane to catch at XD30.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C206 PLT ENCOUNTERS IFR CONDITIONS WHILE FLYING VFR TO FSM.

Narrative: ON NOV/WED/03, I DEPARTED DELHI BTWN XA30 AND XB00. I CONTACTED LCL FSS, DERIDDER (122.2) AND REQUESTED INFO ABOUT WX FROM AND BTWN DELHI, LA, AND FT SMITH. I WAS INFORMED THAT A STALLED STATIONARY FRONT INCLUDED FT SMITH, AR, AND CURRENT CONDITIONS WERE IFR. I DEPARTED DELHI UNDER VFR CONDITIONS. VFR CONDITIONS EXISTED UNTIL 90-100 MI S OF FT SMITH. I TRACKED THE WX VIA NUMEROUS AWOS/ASOS RPTS DURING FLT. A CRITICAL DECISION FOSTERED BY 'I GOTTA GET THERE'ITIS WAS MADE AT 'HOT SPRINGS.' HOT SPRINGS RPTED MARGINAL VFR. I CONTINUED TOWARDS FT SMITH BELIEVING THAT CONDITIONS WOULD SURELY IMPROVE. THERE WAS FREQUENT BREAKS AND CONDITIONS REMAINED MARGINAL VFR TILL 30-40 MI S OF FT SMITH. WX RAPIDLY DETERIORATED AND I HAD TO BE VECTORED AROUND A TSTM. I KNEW AT THIS POINT THAT I HAD MADE A WRONG DECISION. I WAS NOW RISKING MY LIFE AND WAS WISHING I HAD LANDED IN HOT SPRINGS. I RECEIVED WX INFO PER SALLISAW, OK, CEILINGS OF 1000 FT NOTED. I ATTEMPTED NDB APCH TO SALLISAW WITHOUT SUCCESS. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH APCH AND WITH 22-24 GALS OF FUEL I WAS GIVEN PERMISSION TO LAND WITH VECTORED ILS APCH AT FT SMITH, AR (FSM). WITH THE HELP OF AN EXPERIENCED PLT GIVING DIRECTION, A SAFE LNDG WAS PERFORMED. I HAVE BEEN FLYING FOR A NUMBER OF YRS. I LEARNED AN INVALUABLE LESSON OF HOW FAST WX CAN CLOSE IN, HOW STUPID IT IS TO 'ASSUME' THE WX WILL CLR. I IGNORED THE LAWS OF GA. I CAME OUT OF THIS SIT A BETTER AND SMARTER PLT. I HAVE STARTED PLANS TO ACHIEVE MY IFR TICKET IN THE NEXT 2 MONTHS. I USED VERY POOR JUDGEMENT, A DECISION I FEEL WAS PRESSURED BY THE FACT I HAD A COMMERCIAL PLANE TO CATCH AT XD30.

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.