C172 instructor operates IMC with a VFR clearance.

Attributes
ACN	717231
Time
Date	200611
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 18te.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dfw.tower
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 900 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	717231
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

1) last stage check before check ride for IFR rating ck ride. Student (private pilot) was PIC during normal operations. I was PIC during emergencys. 2) departed 18TE in VMC and flew approximately 56 NM to gvt to practice approachs. Upon departure from 18TE and flew through one very small cloud. This should have clued me in to what would be in our area upon our return. 3) approximately 1/3 of the way back to 18TE entered IMC at 2500 ft MSL. We were in and out of IMC/descended down to 2000 ft still in and out of IMC. Continued in and out of IMC by using GPS. Did not get a clearance. 4) my thinking at the time: I don't have approach plate. We have GPS. I know where we are. Getting a clearance at this point is embarrassing and a hassle. Long view approach is closed and fort worth has had problems 'seeing' me at this altitude and this location in the past. I can fly by instruments. 5) I know what I did was wrong. I was not the proactive pilot I teach nor should have been. I should have gotten a WX briefing. I should have anticipated this type of problem and have been prepared by having a plan should this event occur as well as have been prepared with approach plates to get back home.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 INSTRUCTOR OPERATES IMC WITH A VFR CLRNC.

Narrative: 1) LAST STAGE CHK BEFORE CHK RIDE FOR IFR RATING CK RIDE. STUDENT (PVT PLT) WAS PIC DURING NORMAL OPS. I WAS PIC DURING EMERS. 2) DEPARTED 18TE IN VMC AND FLEW APPROX 56 NM TO GVT TO PRACTICE APCHS. UPON DEP FROM 18TE AND FLEW THROUGH ONE VERY SMALL CLOUD. THIS SHOULD HAVE CLUED ME IN TO WHAT WOULD BE IN OUR AREA UPON OUR RETURN. 3) APPROX 1/3 OF THE WAY BACK TO 18TE ENTERED IMC AT 2500 FT MSL. WE WERE IN AND OUT OF IMC/DSNDED DOWN TO 2000 FT STILL IN AND OUT OF IMC. CONTINUED IN AND OUT OF IMC BY USING GPS. DID NOT GET A CLRNC. 4) MY THINKING AT THE TIME: I DON'T HAVE APCH PLATE. WE HAVE GPS. I KNOW WHERE WE ARE. GETTING A CLRNC AT THIS POINT IS EMBARRASSING AND A HASSLE. LONG VIEW APCH IS CLOSED AND FORT WORTH HAS HAD PROBS 'SEEING' ME AT THIS ALT AND THIS LOCATION IN THE PAST. I CAN FLY BY INSTS. 5) I KNOW WHAT I DID WAS WRONG. I WAS NOT THE PROACTIVE PLT I TEACH NOR SHOULD HAVE BEEN. I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A WX BRIEFING. I SHOULD HAVE ANTICIPATED THIS TYPE OF PROB AND HAVE BEEN PREPARED BY HAVING A PLAN SHOULD THIS EVENT OCCUR AS WELL AS HAVE BEEN PREPARED WITH APCH PLATES TO GET BACK HOME.

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.