A PA28 pilot incurred sdl and dvt class D airspace descending near clouds in order to remain VMC.

Attributes
ACN	651391
Time
Date	200503
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sdl.airport
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl single value : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : p50.tracon
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 80 flight time type : 80
ASRS Report	651391
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : diverted to another airport
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

Had been cleared into class B airspace with marginal clouds. After passing phx airport; an area of lower clouds was seen. To stay VFR; we descended and entered the far west side of sdl airspace. At this point; we decided to divert to dvt. By the time contact was reached with dvt tower; we were 2.5 mi from the airport. We landed without other incident. Sdl tower was informed about the incursion; as was deer valley tower.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA28 PLT INCURRED SDL AND DVT CLASS D AIRSPACE DSNDING NEAR CLOUDS IN ORDER TO REMAIN VMC.

Narrative: HAD BEEN CLRED INTO CLASS B AIRSPACE WITH MARGINAL CLOUDS. AFTER PASSING PHX ARPT; AN AREA OF LOWER CLOUDS WAS SEEN. TO STAY VFR; WE DSNDED AND ENTERED THE FAR W SIDE OF SDL AIRSPACE. AT THIS POINT; WE DECIDED TO DIVERT TO DVT. BY THE TIME CONTACT WAS REACHED WITH DVT TWR; WE WERE 2.5 MI FROM THE ARPT. WE LANDED WITHOUT OTHER INCIDENT. SDL TWR WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE INCURSION; AS WAS DEER VALLEY TWR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.