Narrative:

The WX was VMC. I was on a VFR flight plan with FSS. While navigating north of the city I lost all reference to the ground. I immediately focused inside the cockpit; initiated a climb; and began tracking toward ZZZ; my final destination. At 2500 ft MSL I contacted approach control; advised them that I went inadvertent IMC; was level at 2500 ft; 27 mi southwest of ZZZ. I received an IFR clearance with instructions to climb to 3000 ft. When asked what my intentions were I advised that I wanted the VOR runway 24 approach at ZZZ. The controller asked whether I wanted the procedure turn or vectors to final; I responded that I wanted vectors to final. I had received the ASOS at ZZZ and advised approach. I had the approach plate for VOR runway 24 at ZZZ ready and was navigating toward ZZZ. Approximately 15 mi southwest of ZZZ the clouds dissipated and I encountered VMC at 3000 ft. I advised approach that I was VMC but wanted flight following until I had visual of ZZZ. I received acknowledgement of this request. Approximately 8 mi southwest of ZZZ I could see the airport; advised approach and was given permission to squawk 1200 and change to advisory frequency. I descended to 1700 ft; proceeded to ZZZ and landed. The initial problem arose from trying to accomplish the mission; get the passenger home; in deteriorating WX. I found that although I knew the area very well; when the clouds go to the ground you cannot stay VMC. The safest action at that point was to climb into IMC; which I did. I advised the passenger; controled the aircraft; and called for clearance. The transition was very smooth; contacting approach seemed routine. I had full situational awareness at all times to include the proper pubs; frequencys; and confidence in my ability to perform under instrument flight rules.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BELL206L PILOT ON A VFR FLIGHT ENTERED IMC. HE CALLED CENTER AND GOT AN IFR CLEARANCE TO CONTINUE TO DESTINATION.

Narrative: THE WX WAS VMC. I WAS ON A VFR FLT PLAN WITH FSS. WHILE NAVING N OF THE CITY I LOST ALL REF TO THE GND. I IMMEDIATELY FOCUSED INSIDE THE COCKPIT; INITIATED A CLB; AND BEGAN TRACKING TOWARD ZZZ; MY FINAL DEST. AT 2500 FT MSL I CONTACTED APCH CTL; ADVISED THEM THAT I WENT INADVERTENT IMC; WAS LEVEL AT 2500 FT; 27 MI SW OF ZZZ. I RECEIVED AN IFR CLRNC WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO CLB TO 3000 FT. WHEN ASKED WHAT MY INTENTIONS WERE I ADVISED THAT I WANTED THE VOR RWY 24 APCH AT ZZZ. THE CTLR ASKED WHETHER I WANTED THE PROC TURN OR VECTORS TO FINAL; I RESPONDED THAT I WANTED VECTORS TO FINAL. I HAD RECEIVED THE ASOS AT ZZZ AND ADVISED APCH. I HAD THE APCH PLATE FOR VOR RWY 24 AT ZZZ READY AND WAS NAVING TOWARD ZZZ. APPROX 15 MI SW OF ZZZ THE CLOUDS DISSIPATED AND I ENCOUNTERED VMC AT 3000 FT. I ADVISED APCH THAT I WAS VMC BUT WANTED FLT FOLLOWING UNTIL I HAD VISUAL OF ZZZ. I RECEIVED ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THIS REQUEST. APPROX 8 MI SW OF ZZZ I COULD SEE THE ARPT; ADVISED APCH AND WAS GIVEN PERMISSION TO SQUAWK 1200 AND CHANGE TO ADVISORY FREQ. I DSNDED TO 1700 FT; PROCEEDED TO ZZZ AND LANDED. THE INITIAL PROB AROSE FROM TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION; GET THE PAX HOME; IN DETERIORATING WX. I FOUND THAT ALTHOUGH I KNEW THE AREA VERY WELL; WHEN THE CLOUDS GO TO THE GND YOU CANNOT STAY VMC. THE SAFEST ACTION AT THAT POINT WAS TO CLB INTO IMC; WHICH I DID. I ADVISED THE PAX; CTLED THE ACFT; AND CALLED FOR CLRNC. THE TRANSITION WAS VERY SMOOTH; CONTACTING APCH SEEMED ROUTINE. I HAD FULL SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AT ALL TIMES TO INCLUDE THE PROPER PUBS; FREQS; AND CONFIDENCE IN MY ABILITY TO PERFORM UNDER INST FLT RULES.

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.