Narrative:

Cruising VFR/VMC. Forecast indicated clear until georgia, thence 6000 ft ceiling. I knew that once in georgia I could descend safely. Unfortunately, prior to that, where I needed 6000 ft AGL for terrain clearance, I clipped clouds at 6500 ft. Descended to 6000 ft, trying to raise ATC or FSS to air file IFR. Note that I got IFR current in preparation for this trip and made use of it in new england. I tried approximately 6 frequencys, but could not make solid contact with anyone. Went into clouds at 6000 ft. Executed classic standard rate turn 180 degrees. After retracing approximately 10 mi, more clouds. I was over large, bright city lighting clouds so I could remain clear. Idiot FSS gave me useless ATC frequency, despite my providing exact location of VOR and altitude. Another FSS ignored my request, 'I need an ATC frequency that can give me IFR now!' descending could get me killed. Staying in clouds at 6000 ft not good. I called on 121.5, 'any ATC facility, I'm 14 mi on the abc VOR radial at 6000 ft and need an instrument clearance now!' an air carrier flight relayed ATC instructions that got me an en route fast. Factors: I didn't know how low I could get. Poor radio coverage and no ATC frequencys on IFR en route chart that worked. Poorly trained FSS on shift.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA28 PLT ON A NIGHTTIME VFR FLT EXPERIENCED IMC AND ATTEMPTED TO GET IFR CLRNC. AN ACR PLT FINALLY RELAYED A CLRNC AFTER ATTEMPTS ON FSS AND 121 PT 5 FAILED TO MAKE ATC CONTACT.

Narrative: CRUISING VFR/VMC. FORECAST INDICATED CLR UNTIL GEORGIA, THENCE 6000 FT CEILING. I KNEW THAT ONCE IN GEORGIA I COULD DSND SAFELY. UNFORTUNATELY, PRIOR TO THAT, WHERE I NEEDED 6000 FT AGL FOR TERRAIN CLRNC, I CLIPPED CLOUDS AT 6500 FT. DSNDED TO 6000 FT, TRYING TO RAISE ATC OR FSS TO AIR FILE IFR. NOTE THAT I GOT IFR CURRENT IN PREPARATION FOR THIS TRIP AND MADE USE OF IT IN NEW ENGLAND. I TRIED APPROX 6 FREQS, BUT COULD NOT MAKE SOLID CONTACT WITH ANYONE. WENT INTO CLOUDS AT 6000 FT. EXECUTED CLASSIC STANDARD RATE TURN 180 DEGS. AFTER RETRACING APPROX 10 MI, MORE CLOUDS. I WAS OVER LARGE, BRIGHT CITY LIGHTING CLOUDS SO I COULD REMAIN CLR. IDIOT FSS GAVE ME USELESS ATC FREQ, DESPITE MY PROVIDING EXACT LOCATION OF VOR AND ALT. ANOTHER FSS IGNORED MY REQUEST, 'I NEED AN ATC FREQ THAT CAN GIVE ME IFR NOW!' DSNDING COULD GET ME KILLED. STAYING IN CLOUDS AT 6000 FT NOT GOOD. I CALLED ON 121.5, 'ANY ATC FACILITY, I'M 14 MI ON THE ABC VOR RADIAL AT 6000 FT AND NEED AN INST CLRNC NOW!' AN ACR FLT RELAYED ATC INSTRUCTIONS THAT GOT ME AN ENRTE FAST. FACTORS: I DIDN'T KNOW HOW LOW I COULD GET. POOR RADIO COVERAGE AND NO ATC FREQS ON IFR ENRTE CHART THAT WORKED. POORLY TRAINED FSS ON SHIFT.

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.