C172 pilot enters IMC while VFR in the dc ADIZ.

Attributes
ACN	714635
Time
Date	200610
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pct.tracon
State Reference	VA
Altitude	agl single value : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Weather Elements	Rain
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pct.tracon tower : dca.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	DVR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 1200 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	714635
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure Flight Crew Human Performance Weather ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

I was flying in VMC; finishing a shift doing traffic watch over baltimore; and monitored the AWOS at gai on the way into our usual refueling point; cgs. The AWOS had been saying 008 scattered; 017 broken for a while; and was not forecast to go to IFR (broken below 1000 ft AGL) until much later. I landed at cgs to get fuel and was back up 15 mins later for the 10 min; 15 NM flight back to gai. Within about 4 mi of gai (a point I knew well by the roads over which I was flying); the ceilings went from few at 800 ft to broken at 800 ft. I found myself dodging more clouds; and asked washington tower; who controls all traffic within the 'frz' around washington; for a SVFR clearance. They told me to contact potomac on 124.7 -- a frequency I had never used before; in over 600 hours of local flight this yr. I tried to get a word in on 124.7; but there was no response -- the airline traffic was too busy; and I was too low. I could not get an IFR clearance without first climbing (into the broken layer); so I chose to fly the known route; at 700 ft AGL for the last 3 mi back to gaithersburg; rather than risk climbing into the clouds; and losing my immediate bearings; especially that close to the 'frz' and the airspace around washington.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT ENTERS IMC WHILE VFR IN THE DC ADIZ.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING IN VMC; FINISHING A SHIFT DOING TFC WATCH OVER BALTIMORE; AND MONITORED THE AWOS AT GAI ON THE WAY INTO OUR USUAL REFUELING POINT; CGS. THE AWOS HAD BEEN SAYING 008 SCATTERED; 017 BROKEN FOR A WHILE; AND WAS NOT FORECAST TO GO TO IFR (BROKEN BELOW 1000 FT AGL) UNTIL MUCH LATER. I LANDED AT CGS TO GET FUEL AND WAS BACK UP 15 MINS LATER FOR THE 10 MIN; 15 NM FLT BACK TO GAI. WITHIN ABOUT 4 MI OF GAI (A POINT I KNEW WELL BY THE ROADS OVER WHICH I WAS FLYING); THE CEILINGS WENT FROM FEW AT 800 FT TO BROKEN AT 800 FT. I FOUND MYSELF DODGING MORE CLOUDS; AND ASKED WASHINGTON TWR; WHO CTLS ALL TFC WITHIN THE 'FRZ' AROUND WASHINGTON; FOR A SVFR CLRNC. THEY TOLD ME TO CONTACT POTOMAC ON 124.7 -- A FREQ I HAD NEVER USED BEFORE; IN OVER 600 HRS OF LCL FLT THIS YR. I TRIED TO GET A WORD IN ON 124.7; BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE -- THE AIRLINE TFC WAS TOO BUSY; AND I WAS TOO LOW. I COULD NOT GET AN IFR CLRNC WITHOUT FIRST CLBING (INTO THE BROKEN LAYER); SO I CHOSE TO FLY THE KNOWN RTE; AT 700 FT AGL FOR THE LAST 3 MI BACK TO GAITHERSBURG; RATHER THAN RISK CLBING INTO THE CLOUDS; AND LOSING MY IMMEDIATE BEARINGS; ESPECIALLY THAT CLOSE TO THE 'FRZ' AND THE AIRSPACE AROUND WASHINGTON.

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.