C150 pilot enters IMC while on a VFR flight.

Attributes
ACN	704865
Time
Date	200607
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sat.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sat.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 150
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 36.8 flight time total : 53.3 flight time type : 40.9
ASRS Report	704865
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

Certificate: private pilot. Working towards instrument rating with 7.6 hours current flight training time. Local time XX15 departed from sat to 8t6 on a heading of 160 degrees direct to the thx VORTAC; thence thx 160 degrees to 8t6; cruise altitude 3500 ft. The total distance is 87 NM and usually takes about 45 mins; a routine trip. The sat metar was calm; broken 250 and the ali metar (closest available) was calm; broken 30 and both were to improve by the taf. At approximately 25 mi into the flight; I began to encounter a thin layer at 3500 ft. Began a descent to maintain cloud clearance; after forced down to 2000 ft MSL. I made the decision to do a 180 degree turn and return to sat. 1/2 way through the turn; I encountered solid IMC and began the transition to full panel instrument flight. Not yet terminated by sat departure. After a short bout with spatial disorientation; and in a right descending bank; I corrected to a straight and level flight with a slight climb to 3000 ft MSL. Tuned to the sat VORTAC and intercepted the 160 degree radial; which takes me directly over downtown san antonio. Proceeding inbound on the 160; with approximately 25 mins in solid IMC; at 2200 ft MSL; I reported the airport in sight; and it was a normal VFR night landing from that point.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C150 PLT ENTERS IMC WHILE ON A VFR FLT.

Narrative: CERTIFICATE: PVT PLT. WORKING TOWARDS INST RATING WITH 7.6 HRS CURRENT FLT TRAINING TIME. LCL TIME XX15 DEPARTED FROM SAT TO 8T6 ON A HDG OF 160 DEGS DIRECT TO THE THX VORTAC; THENCE THX 160 DEGS TO 8T6; CRUISE ALT 3500 FT. THE TOTAL DISTANCE IS 87 NM AND USUALLY TAKES ABOUT 45 MINS; A ROUTINE TRIP. THE SAT METAR WAS CALM; BROKEN 250 AND THE ALI METAR (CLOSEST AVAILABLE) WAS CALM; BROKEN 30 AND BOTH WERE TO IMPROVE BY THE TAF. AT APPROX 25 MI INTO THE FLT; I BEGAN TO ENCOUNTER A THIN LAYER AT 3500 FT. BEGAN A DSCNT TO MAINTAIN CLOUD CLRNC; AFTER FORCED DOWN TO 2000 FT MSL. I MADE THE DECISION TO DO A 180 DEG TURN AND RETURN TO SAT. 1/2 WAY THROUGH THE TURN; I ENCOUNTERED SOLID IMC AND BEGAN THE TRANSITION TO FULL PANEL INST FLT. NOT YET TERMINATED BY SAT DEP. AFTER A SHORT BOUT WITH SPATIAL DISORIENTATION; AND IN A R DSNDING BANK; I CORRECTED TO A STRAIGHT AND LEVEL FLT WITH A SLIGHT CLB TO 3000 FT MSL. TUNED TO THE SAT VORTAC AND INTERCEPTED THE 160 DEG RADIAL; WHICH TAKES ME DIRECTLY OVER DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO. PROCEEDING INBOUND ON THE 160; WITH APPROX 25 MINS IN SOLID IMC; AT 2200 FT MSL; I RPTED THE ARPT IN SIGHT; AND IT WAS A NORMAL VFR NIGHT LNDG FROM THAT POINT.

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.