A small airplane pilot transiting near nfl's R-4816S VFR; encountered IMC conditions and needed ATC ...

Narrative:

Permission was obtained from fallon approach to utilize the corridor between R-4138A; R-4816N and R-4816S in the gabbs north MOA. I advised approach that I would need to encroach into the R-4816S to remain VFR; in which I was advised it was active and it would be alright as long as I didn't travel any further into the airspace. I was then cleared direct flx. I advised I had one more area of clouds to maneuver around to remain VFR then I would turn direct flx. As I maneuvered around the clouds and turned southwest; direct flx; the visibility began to decrease. I had visual terrain separation; but the flight visibility was falling below VFR. Turning to the north; where visibility was less and terrain was higher wasn't an option. Turning back to the east wasn't an option as I would be flying into active restricted airspace. My best option at this point I felt was to notify fallon approach I was in IMC and request vectors to flx. I requested vectors due to the approach corridor for fallon NAS I would need to pass through. After receiving two vectors I was in VMC again and was cleared on course. Contributing factors to the situation include moving too far into active special use airspace to avoid clouds in which I could not return if the visibility decreased. I felt advising of my situation and requesting vectors was the best decision due to the volatile airspace surrounding my location.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Small Airplane Pilot transiting near NFL's R-4816S VFR; encountered IMC conditions and needed ATC vectors in the Special Use Airspace because of terrain and low visibility.

Narrative: Permission was obtained from Fallon Approach to utilize the corridor between R-4138A; R-4816N and R-4816S in the Gabbs north MOA. I advised Approach that I would need to encroach into the R-4816S to remain VFR; in which I was advised it was active and it would be alright as long as I didn't travel any further into the airspace. I was then cleared direct FLX. I advised I had one more area of clouds to maneuver around to remain VFR then I would turn direct FLX. As I maneuvered around the clouds and turned southwest; direct FLX; the visibility began to decrease. I had visual terrain separation; but the flight visibility was falling below VFR. Turning to the north; where visibility was less and terrain was higher wasn't an option. Turning back to the east wasn't an option as I would be flying into Active Restricted Airspace. My best option at this point I felt was to notify Fallon Approach I was in IMC and request vectors to FLX. I requested vectors due to the approach corridor for Fallon NAS I would need to pass through. After receiving two vectors I was in VMC again and was cleared on course. Contributing factors to the situation include moving too far into active special use airspace to avoid clouds in which I could not return if the visibility decreased. I felt advising of my situation and requesting vectors was the best decision due to the volatile airspace surrounding my location.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	877809
Time
Date	201003
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	FLX.Airport
State Reference	NV
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft Low Wing 1 Eng Retractable Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Vectors Direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120 Flight Crew Total 630 Flight Crew Type 320
Events
Anomaly	Airspace Violation All Types Deviation - Procedural FAR Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC

A small airplane pilot transiting near nfl's R-4816S VFR; encountered IMC conditions and needed ATC vectors in the special use airspace because of terrain and low visibility.