Narrative:

On a return trip to ZZZ; I encountered IMC. The WX report was clear 10 mi visibility and clear sky conditions for departure. The report for ZZZ for our arrival time was forecast to be 6 mi visibility and 2200 ft scattered and 8000 ft overcast ceiling. Actual conditions reported at ZZZ around 30 mins before arrival were 6 mi visibility and 800 ft overcast with tops between 4000-6500 ft and clear above. I descended through the broken clouds around the abc VOR and realized the ceiling was lower than forecasted. Realizing the low ceiling and potential mountain hazards; I decided to climb to get out of the clouds. The clouds were becoming more overcast; not affording any opening to reach clear skies. I had to climb through broken clouds with some restr visibility due to cloud cover. At this point; I was approximately 25 mi from ZZZ and it appeared that the overcast layer was larger than when I passed the VOR. I was concerned about turning around because of the terrain; the fuel (although not critical at the moment); and the unfamiliarity with other airports and their WX conditions. Knowing there were mountains all around the area and not knowing how far the overcast layer covered from where I came; I contacted clearance and approach to request a clearance to be vectored for an ILS approach. Approach granted the clearance and provided vectors to the ILS approach. I landed without incident; but in IMC with an overcast base around 1400 ft. I am filing this safety report because I am not instrument rated and I entered IMC; albeit unintentionally; and I put myself and my 2 passenger in danger; as well as potentially other aircraft. I have completed a part 141 instrument training program through a flight school and only have to complete my written and practical exams. I felt with my instrument training; that was the safest alternative at the time. I realize that I should have turned around as soon as I saw the clouds; because I did not know the real conditions.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C206 PLT ENCOUNTERED DETERIORATING WX WITH NO FLT PLAN FILED. THE NON-ISTR RATED PLT REQUESTED VECTORS TO THE ILS AND LANDED.

Narrative: ON A RETURN TRIP TO ZZZ; I ENCOUNTERED IMC. THE WX RPT WAS CLR 10 MI VISIBILITY AND CLR SKY CONDITIONS FOR DEP. THE RPT FOR ZZZ FOR OUR ARR TIME WAS FORECAST TO BE 6 MI VISIBILITY AND 2200 FT SCATTERED AND 8000 FT OVCST CEILING. ACTUAL CONDITIONS RPTED AT ZZZ AROUND 30 MINS BEFORE ARR WERE 6 MI VISIBILITY AND 800 FT OVCST WITH TOPS BTWN 4000-6500 FT AND CLR ABOVE. I DSNDED THROUGH THE BROKEN CLOUDS AROUND THE ABC VOR AND REALIZED THE CEILING WAS LOWER THAN FORECASTED. REALIZING THE LOW CEILING AND POTENTIAL MOUNTAIN HAZARDS; I DECIDED TO CLB TO GET OUT OF THE CLOUDS. THE CLOUDS WERE BECOMING MORE OVCST; NOT AFFORDING ANY OPENING TO REACH CLR SKIES. I HAD TO CLB THROUGH BROKEN CLOUDS WITH SOME RESTR VISIBILITY DUE TO CLOUD COVER. AT THIS POINT; I WAS APPROX 25 MI FROM ZZZ AND IT APPEARED THAT THE OVCST LAYER WAS LARGER THAN WHEN I PASSED THE VOR. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT TURNING AROUND BECAUSE OF THE TERRAIN; THE FUEL (ALTHOUGH NOT CRITICAL AT THE MOMENT); AND THE UNFAMILIARITY WITH OTHER ARPTS AND THEIR WX CONDITIONS. KNOWING THERE WERE MOUNTAINS ALL AROUND THE AREA AND NOT KNOWING HOW FAR THE OVCST LAYER COVERED FROM WHERE I CAME; I CONTACTED CLRNC AND APCH TO REQUEST A CLRNC TO BE VECTORED FOR AN ILS APCH. APCH GRANTED THE CLRNC AND PROVIDED VECTORS TO THE ILS APCH. I LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT; BUT IN IMC WITH AN OVCST BASE AROUND 1400 FT. I AM FILING THIS SAFETY RPT BECAUSE I AM NOT INSTRUMENT RATED AND I ENTERED IMC; ALBEIT UNINTENTIONALLY; AND I PUT MYSELF AND MY 2 PAX IN DANGER; AS WELL AS POTENTIALLY OTHER ACFT. I HAVE COMPLETED A PART 141 INST TRAINING PROGRAM THROUGH A FLT SCHOOL AND ONLY HAVE TO COMPLETE MY WRITTEN AND PRACTICAL EXAMS. I FELT WITH MY INST TRAINING; THAT WAS THE SAFEST ALTERNATIVE AT THE TIME. I REALIZE THAT I SHOULD HAVE TURNED AROUND AS SOON AS I SAW THE CLOUDS; BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW THE REAL CONDITIONS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.