C172 private pilot encounters IMC on a VFR flight.

Attributes
ACN	689559
Time
Date	200603
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ehf.vortac
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 10500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : fai.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 315 flight time type : 315
ASRS Report	689559
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I inadvertently entered IMC while climbing through 8500 ft for 10500 ft MSL. I was not trying to 'punch through' an overcast layer; rather I was attempting to climb through an approximately 1 mi diameter opening in the clouds into clear blue sky conditions visible at approximately 9000 ft MSL. I was able to maintain a visual reference with the ground during the climb. The problem arose when I realized that the climb performance of the C172 would not allow me to maintain cloud clearance with a straight and level climb. I began a circling climb; during which I lost visual reference with the ground. I was not in the clouds; however; with clouds all around me; I quickly became disoriented in relation to my distance from clouds. I decided to abort the climb but soon thereafter entered IMC. During the ensuing spatial disorientation; I managed to recover wings level; and luckily broke out into the clear; after which I resumed my original course wbound and remained at least 1 mi from any clouds. Contributing factors were loss of visual reference with the ground; and failure to take into account the aircraft's climb performance. Human performance considerations included the initial perception that a straight and level climb into clear conditions above the clouds was possible; and the later decision to attempt a circling climb rather than immediately abort the climb. My judgement that maintaining 2000 ft horizontally from the clouds would not be a problem; even in a circling climb; was poor and ultimately wrong.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PVT PLT ENCOUNTERS IMC ON A VFR FLT.

Narrative: I INADVERTENTLY ENTERED IMC WHILE CLBING THROUGH 8500 FT FOR 10500 FT MSL. I WAS NOT TRYING TO 'PUNCH THROUGH' AN OVCST LAYER; RATHER I WAS ATTEMPTING TO CLB THROUGH AN APPROX 1 MI DIAMETER OPENING IN THE CLOUDS INTO CLR BLUE SKY CONDITIONS VISIBLE AT APPROX 9000 FT MSL. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN A VISUAL REF WITH THE GND DURING THE CLB. THE PROB AROSE WHEN I REALIZED THAT THE CLB PERFORMANCE OF THE C172 WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO MAINTAIN CLOUD CLRNC WITH A STRAIGHT AND LEVEL CLB. I BEGAN A CIRCLING CLB; DURING WHICH I LOST VISUAL REF WITH THE GND. I WAS NOT IN THE CLOUDS; HOWEVER; WITH CLOUDS ALL AROUND ME; I QUICKLY BECAME DISORIENTED IN RELATION TO MY DISTANCE FROM CLOUDS. I DECIDED TO ABORT THE CLB BUT SOON THEREAFTER ENTERED IMC. DURING THE ENSUING SPATIAL DISORIENTATION; I MANAGED TO RECOVER WINGS LEVEL; AND LUCKILY BROKE OUT INTO THE CLR; AFTER WHICH I RESUMED MY ORIGINAL COURSE WBOUND AND REMAINED AT LEAST 1 MI FROM ANY CLOUDS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE LOSS OF VISUAL REF WITH THE GND; AND FAILURE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE ACFT'S CLB PERFORMANCE. HUMAN PERFORMANCE CONSIDERATIONS INCLUDED THE INITIAL PERCEPTION THAT A STRAIGHT AND LEVEL CLB INTO CLR CONDITIONS ABOVE THE CLOUDS WAS POSSIBLE; AND THE LATER DECISION TO ATTEMPT A CIRCLING CLB RATHER THAN IMMEDIATELY ABORT THE CLB. MY JUDGEMENT THAT MAINTAINING 2000 FT HORIZLY FROM THE CLOUDS WOULD NOT BE A PROB; EVEN IN A CIRCLING CLB; WAS POOR AND ULTIMATELY WRONG.

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.