VFR flight in IMC, close proximity to terrain.

Attributes
ACN	90302
Time
Date	198806
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : toa
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 500 agl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 1
ASRS Report	90302
Events
Anomaly	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:

Departed VFR from torrance airport to long beach, ca. Distance of 10 NM at most. WX was reported 800' scattered 1100' overcast. Thought about getting an IFR clearance but didn't want the delay. Took off to southeast to long beach harbor. Ceiling was really at 800' and visibility of 5 mi was uncomfortable. Found I was flying at 500' (AGL and MSL) to have cloud clearance. Regretted the decision to go VFR as I was over congested space. Conclusion: in the la area, don't fly VFR and don't fly west/O someone along to help you navigate and communicate and watch out! I'm an FAA inspector and it would be particularly embarrassing to have my name appear on one of the TCA/arsa violations that are processed with regularity in the la basin.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR FLT IN IMC, CLOSE PROX TO TERRAIN.

Narrative: DEPARTED VFR FROM TORRANCE ARPT TO LONG BEACH, CA. DISTANCE OF 10 NM AT MOST. WX WAS RPTED 800' SCATTERED 1100' OVERCAST. THOUGHT ABOUT GETTING AN IFR CLRNC BUT DIDN'T WANT THE DELAY. TOOK OFF TO SE TO LONG BEACH HARBOR. CEILING WAS REALLY AT 800' AND VIS OF 5 MI WAS UNCOMFORTABLE. FOUND I WAS FLYING AT 500' (AGL AND MSL) TO HAVE CLOUD CLRNC. REGRETTED THE DECISION TO GO VFR AS I WAS OVER CONGESTED SPACE. CONCLUSION: IN THE LA AREA, DON'T FLY VFR AND DON'T FLY W/O SOMEONE ALONG TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE AND COMMUNICATE AND WATCH OUT! I'M AN FAA INSPECTOR AND IT WOULD BE PARTICULARLY EMBARRASSING TO HAVE MY NAME APPEAR ON ONE OF THE TCA/ARSA VIOLATIONS THAT ARE PROCESSED WITH REGULARITY IN THE LA BASIN.

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.