GA small aircraft encountered IFR WX and required special VFR clearance to reach alternate.

Attributes
ACN	84052
Time
Date	198803
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : int airport : 8a7
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : gso tower : int
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 140 flight time type : 70
ASRS Report	84052
Person 2
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Was given a WX briefing of marginal VFR to good VFR, ran out of good VFR into marginal. Original destination uncontrolled and could not get in due to fog. Went to int, requested special VFR (1 1/4 mi visibility) due to minimum fuel. I had 40 mins fuel remaining, but thought gsb arsa had to have a reason for granting a special VFR into int. On final I looked toward my original destination (and it was only 15 NM away), and thought it was breaking up to VFR. I pulled up and told tower I would continue on to 8a7 (destination), but when I got within 8 mi, it went IFR again. I returned to int by radar vectors and again reiterated low fuel status and landed. I should have made 180 degree turn and landed at the first sign of below marginal VFR. I also will be more diligent about getting instrument rating.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA ENCOUNTERED IFR WX AND REQUIRED SPECIAL VFR CLRNC TO REACH ALTERNATE.

Narrative: WAS GIVEN A WX BRIEFING OF MARGINAL VFR TO GOOD VFR, RAN OUT OF GOOD VFR INTO MARGINAL. ORIGINAL DEST UNCTLED AND COULD NOT GET IN DUE TO FOG. WENT TO INT, REQUESTED SPECIAL VFR (1 1/4 MI VIS) DUE TO MINIMUM FUEL. I HAD 40 MINS FUEL REMAINING, BUT THOUGHT GSB ARSA HAD TO HAVE A REASON FOR GRANTING A SPECIAL VFR INTO INT. ON FINAL I LOOKED TOWARD MY ORIGINAL DEST (AND IT WAS ONLY 15 NM AWAY), AND THOUGHT IT WAS BREAKING UP TO VFR. I PULLED UP AND TOLD TWR I WOULD CONTINUE ON TO 8A7 (DEST), BUT WHEN I GOT WITHIN 8 MI, IT WENT IFR AGAIN. I RETURNED TO INT BY RADAR VECTORS AND AGAIN REITERATED LOW FUEL STATUS AND LANDED. I SHOULD HAVE MADE 180 DEG TURN AND LANDED AT THE FIRST SIGN OF BELOW MARGINAL VFR. I ALSO WILL BE MORE DILIGENT ABOUT GETTING INSTRUMENT RATING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.