GA small aircraft continued VFR flight in IMC with help from ZNY.

Attributes
ACN	95185
Time
Date	198810
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : huo
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 14500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 573 flight time type : 490
ASRS Report	95185
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I obtained a preflight briefing from bridgeport FSS. Based on this briefing the worst conditions I could expect on my flight from psf to west 10 was marginal VFR. I departed 2 hours, 30 mins later, climbed to 4500' MSL and continued at this ht with advisories from alb approach until 30 mi southeast of alb. About 20 mi northeast of huguenot I contacted ny center for advisories and started a climb to 10500' MSL to remain VFR, had to continue climb to 12500' MSL to remain VFR. About 16 NM southeast of huguenot I had to continue my climb to 14500' MSL to remain VFR. I didn't want to climb any higher because my plane was not O2 equipped, although I could see clear skies about 3000' above. I was between layers of clouds. The layers closed in in front of me so I attempted at 180 degree turn and found that it had closed in behind me. I contacted ny center and told them that I had a problem and was no longer VFR and was in the clouds. I was told to keep wings level and they would try to vector me to VFR conditions. I informed ATC that I had 55 hours instrument training and could come down through the clouds ok. I continued on course and descended. I broke out at about 2500' MSL and 5 mi north of allentown. I continued to allentown and landed. I am going to continue and get my instrument rating as soon as possible so that I won't get myself into this position again!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA CONTINUED VFR FLT IN IMC WITH HELP FROM ZNY.

Narrative: I OBTAINED A PREFLT BRIEFING FROM BRIDGEPORT FSS. BASED ON THIS BRIEFING THE WORST CONDITIONS I COULD EXPECT ON MY FLT FROM PSF TO W 10 WAS MARGINAL VFR. I DEPARTED 2 HRS, 30 MINS LATER, CLBED TO 4500' MSL AND CONTINUED AT THIS HT WITH ADVISORIES FROM ALB APCH UNTIL 30 MI SE OF ALB. ABOUT 20 MI NE OF HUGUENOT I CONTACTED NY CENTER FOR ADVISORIES AND STARTED A CLB TO 10500' MSL TO REMAIN VFR, HAD TO CONTINUE CLB TO 12500' MSL TO REMAIN VFR. ABOUT 16 NM SE OF HUGUENOT I HAD TO CONTINUE MY CLB TO 14500' MSL TO REMAIN VFR. I DIDN'T WANT TO CLB ANY HIGHER BECAUSE MY PLANE WAS NOT O2 EQUIPPED, ALTHOUGH I COULD SEE CLEAR SKIES ABOUT 3000' ABOVE. I WAS BTWN LAYERS OF CLOUDS. THE LAYERS CLOSED IN IN FRONT OF ME SO I ATTEMPTED AT 180 DEG TURN AND FOUND THAT IT HAD CLOSED IN BEHIND ME. I CONTACTED NY CENTER AND TOLD THEM THAT I HAD A PROB AND WAS NO LONGER VFR AND WAS IN THE CLOUDS. I WAS TOLD TO KEEP WINGS LEVEL AND THEY WOULD TRY TO VECTOR ME TO VFR CONDITIONS. I INFORMED ATC THAT I HAD 55 HRS INSTRUMENT TRNING AND COULD COME DOWN THROUGH THE CLOUDS OK. I CONTINUED ON COURSE AND DSNDED. I BROKE OUT AT ABOUT 2500' MSL AND 5 MI N OF ALLENTOWN. I CONTINUED TO ALLENTOWN AND LANDED. I AM GOING TO CONTINUE AND GET MY INSTRUMENT RATING ASAP SO THAT I WON'T GET MYSELF INTO THIS POS AGAIN!

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.