DHC8 pilot on skydiving drop inadvertently flies into base of overcast.

Attributes
ACN	658576
Time
Date	200505
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : zzz.vortac
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	Other
Make Model Name	Twin Otter DHC-6
Operating Under FAR Part	other : 105
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 7100 flight time type : 650
ASRS Report	658576
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flying jump run for skydiving operation VFR below an overcast. Snow was falling from the overcast; but visibility was VFR; however; the bottom of the overcast was not clearly defined. While jumpers were exiting; I flew into a lower part of the overcast. Power was reduced and descent was made out of the cloud after 15-20 seconds. No further clouds were below. Under these conditions in the future; I would fly much lower below the overcast.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DHC8 PLT ON SKYDIVING DROP INADVERTENTLY FLIES INTO BASE OF OVCST.

Narrative: FLYING JUMP RUN FOR SKYDIVING OP VFR BELOW AN OVCST. SNOW WAS FALLING FROM THE OVCST; BUT VISIBILITY WAS VFR; HOWEVER; THE BOTTOM OF THE OVCST WAS NOT CLRLY DEFINED. WHILE JUMPERS WERE EXITING; I FLEW INTO A LOWER PART OF THE OVCST. PWR WAS REDUCED AND DSCNT WAS MADE OUT OF THE CLOUD AFTER 15-20 SECONDS. NO FURTHER CLOUDS WERE BELOW. UNDER THESE CONDITIONS IN THE FUTURE; I WOULD FLY MUCH LOWER BELOW THE OVCST.

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.