C172 pilot encounters IMC while flying VFR while trying to navigation through cells.

Attributes
ACN	704419
Time
Date	200607
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bmt.airport
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Turbulence Thunderstorm Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bpt.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 320 flight time type : 285
ASRS Report	704419
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : turbulence non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

Beaumont asked me to advise them if I needed to descend any lower than 2500 ft to maintain VFR; presumably due to another aft that was inbound for beaumont. When I advised that I needed lower; I was turned 20 degrees left; which placed me between 2 storm cells. I flew between the 2 cells at approximately 1700 ft; only to realize there was another cell ahead of me. I attempted to turn around and fly away from the cell ahead of me but in doing so; I flew right into IMC. Initially; I maintained heading and altitude but shortly thereafter; I was met with turbulence and heavy rain; making it difficult to maintain straight and level flight. I immediately advised beaumont that I wa in IMC and needed a heading. Additionally; I began to climb in the event there were towers or other obstacles in the area. Beaumont gave me a heading but I was unable to turn to that heading due to turbulence and rain. My objective was to simply fly the plane and maintain straight and level flight. I advised beaumont of this and was told that I would be out of those conditions in approximately 5 mi. Heading and eventually returned to VMC; at which time I proceeded to T78 in liberty; tx; to wait out other WX in the houston area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT ENCOUNTERS IMC WHILE FLYING VFR WHILE TRYING TO NAV THROUGH CELLS.

Narrative: BEAUMONT ASKED ME TO ADVISE THEM IF I NEEDED TO DSND ANY LOWER THAN 2500 FT TO MAINTAIN VFR; PRESUMABLY DUE TO ANOTHER AFT THAT WAS INBOUND FOR BEAUMONT. WHEN I ADVISED THAT I NEEDED LOWER; I WAS TURNED 20 DEGS L; WHICH PLACED ME BTWN 2 STORM CELLS. I FLEW BTWN THE 2 CELLS AT APPROX 1700 FT; ONLY TO REALIZE THERE WAS ANOTHER CELL AHEAD OF ME. I ATTEMPTED TO TURN AROUND AND FLY AWAY FROM THE CELL AHEAD OF ME BUT IN DOING SO; I FLEW RIGHT INTO IMC. INITIALLY; I MAINTAINED HDG AND ALT BUT SHORTLY THEREAFTER; I WAS MET WITH TURB AND HVY RAIN; MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLT. I IMMEDIATELY ADVISED BEAUMONT THAT I WA IN IMC AND NEEDED A HDG. ADDITIONALLY; I BEGAN TO CLB IN THE EVENT THERE WERE TWRS OR OTHER OBSTACLES IN THE AREA. BEAUMONT GAVE ME A HDG BUT I WAS UNABLE TO TURN TO THAT HDG DUE TO TURB AND RAIN. MY OBJECTIVE WAS TO SIMPLY FLY THE PLANE AND MAINTAIN STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLT. I ADVISED BEAUMONT OF THIS AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD BE OUT OF THOSE CONDITIONS IN APPROX 5 MI. HDG AND EVENTUALLY RETURNED TO VMC; AT WHICH TIME I PROCEEDED TO T78 IN LIBERTY; TX; TO WAIT OUT OTHER WX IN THE HOUSTON AREA.

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.