PA31 pilot entered IMC WX conditions without an IFR or SVFR clearance at tal.

Attributes
ACN	603599
Time
Date	200311
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tal.airport
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	PA-31P Navajo P
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 400 flight time total : 5300 flight time type : 1400
ASRS Report	603599
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

30 mi to the west of tanana, I checked WX, it was 3 mi visibility and 2600 ft broken, and I decided to continue under basic VFR condition. I monitored ATC center frequency 120.9 and CTAF frequency 122.9 and also ASOS which is 135.1. But when I came to 7 mi of tanana, visibility on ASOS dropped to 1 mi, and it was supposed to get some new clearance for SVFR to enter class east surface area at tanana, but I was communicating with other aircraft on final approach to make sure we had a good separation, announcing my position, altitude, and distance. I thought at this time that it was too late to pick up clearance, because I was already on final approach. This was my mistake. I should think in advance and request SVFR clearance for entry into class east surface area before even starting my flight to that airport. I was busy flying airplane, communicating with another aircraft and when visibility dropped below basic VFR minimums, I was not ready to request clearance, and at the same time I was almost on final approach and ready to land.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA31 PLT ENTERED IMC WX CONDITIONS WITHOUT AN IFR OR SVFR CLRNC AT TAL.

Narrative: 30 MI TO THE W OF TANANA, I CHKED WX, IT WAS 3 MI VISIBILITY AND 2600 FT BROKEN, AND I DECIDED TO CONTINUE UNDER BASIC VFR CONDITION. I MONITORED ATC CTR FREQ 120.9 AND CTAF FREQ 122.9 AND ALSO ASOS WHICH IS 135.1. BUT WHEN I CAME TO 7 MI OF TANANA, VISIBILITY ON ASOS DROPPED TO 1 MI, AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GET SOME NEW CLRNC FOR SVFR TO ENTER CLASS E SURFACE AREA AT TANANA, BUT I WAS COMMUNICATING WITH OTHER ACFT ON FINAL APCH TO MAKE SURE WE HAD A GOOD SEPARATION, ANNOUNCING MY POS, ALT, AND DISTANCE. I THOUGHT AT THIS TIME THAT IT WAS TOO LATE TO PICK UP CLRNC, BECAUSE I WAS ALREADY ON FINAL APCH. THIS WAS MY MISTAKE. I SHOULD THINK IN ADVANCE AND REQUEST SVFR CLRNC FOR ENTRY INTO CLASS E SURFACE AREA BEFORE EVEN STARTING MY FLT TO THAT ARPT. I WAS BUSY FLYING AIRPLANE, COMMUNICATING WITH ANOTHER ACFT AND WHEN VISIBILITY DROPPED BELOW BASIC VFR MINIMUMS, I WAS NOT READY TO REQUEST CLRNC, AND AT THE SAME TIME I WAS ALMOST ON FINAL APCH AND READY TO LAND.

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.