C182 pilot on IFR flight plan cancels to expedite arrival and then encounters less than VMC.

Attributes
ACN	675082
Time
Date	200510
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iwi.airport
State Reference	ME
Altitude	agl bound lower : 600 agl bound upper : 700
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nhz.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 54 flight time total : 825 flight time type : 390
ASRS Report	675082
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc 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

Narrative:

I was on an IFR flight plan approaching nhz en route to iwi at 2000 ft between layers. I was between layers; iwi was reporting VFR ceilings; and there was a large hole in the cloud deck below me. Thus; I canceled IFR and was granted clearance to descend through the brunswick (nhz) airspace. I proceeded to turn and descend VFR to below the cloud deck. Once below the cloud deck; it became clear that I would need to descend to 600-700 ft to remain clear of the clouds; therefore; below minimum altitudes. Factors: wish to shorter flight. Air sick; nervous passenger wishing for shortest trip possible. Ceilings at position are not necessarily the same as at destination 10 mi away. In retrospect; it certainly would have been safer to remain IFR; prolonging the flight; rather than flying VFR below the low ceilings.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C182 PLT ON IFR FLT PLAN CANCELS TO EXPEDITE ARR AND THEN ENCOUNTERS LESS THAN VMC.

Narrative: I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN APCHING NHZ ENRTE TO IWI AT 2000 FT BTWN LAYERS. I WAS BTWN LAYERS; IWI WAS RPTING VFR CEILINGS; AND THERE WAS A LARGE HOLE IN THE CLOUD DECK BELOW ME. THUS; I CANCELED IFR AND WAS GRANTED CLRNC TO DSND THROUGH THE BRUNSWICK (NHZ) AIRSPACE. I PROCEEDED TO TURN AND DSND VFR TO BELOW THE CLOUD DECK. ONCE BELOW THE CLOUD DECK; IT BECAME CLR THAT I WOULD NEED TO DSND TO 600-700 FT TO REMAIN CLR OF THE CLOUDS; THEREFORE; BELOW MINIMUM ALTS. FACTORS: WISH TO SHORTER FLT. AIR SICK; NERVOUS PAX WISHING FOR SHORTEST TRIP POSSIBLE. CEILINGS AT POS ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME AS AT DEST 10 MI AWAY. IN RETROSPECT; IT CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN SAFER TO REMAIN IFR; PROLONGING THE FLT; RATHER THAN FLYING VFR BELOW THE LOW CEILINGS.

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.