A VFR PA28-161 descended below a cloud layer into class D airspace and had an near midair collision.

Attributes
ACN	638944
Time
Date	200412
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : huf.airport
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	PA-31P Navajo P
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : huf.tower
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 41 flight time total : 41 flight time type : 41
ASRS Report	638944
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry conflict : nmac non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Miss Distance	horizontal : 50 vertical : 150
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Airspace Structure Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying VFR at 4500 ft AGL. I was planning on flying over class D airspace when a large group of clouds appeared. This forced me to descend into class D airspace. I failed to contact tower, and this resulted in an near midair collision with another single engine plane. The plane was approximately 150 ft below me and 50 ft horizontally from me.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A VFR PA28-161 DSNDED BELOW A CLOUD LAYER INTO CLASS D AIRSPACE AND HAD AN NMAC.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING VFR AT 4500 FT AGL. I WAS PLANNING ON FLYING OVER CLASS D AIRSPACE WHEN A LARGE GROUP OF CLOUDS APPEARED. THIS FORCED ME TO DSND INTO CLASS D AIRSPACE. I FAILED TO CONTACT TWR, AND THIS RESULTED IN AN NMAC WITH ANOTHER SINGLE ENG PLANE. THE PLANE WAS APPROX 150 FT BELOW ME AND 50 FT HORIZLY FROM ME.

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.