GA small aircraft non IFR rated pilot filed IFR flight plan.

Attributes
ACN	97203
Time
Date	198810
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : azo
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : azo
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 16 flight time total : 152 flight time type : 152
ASRS Report	97203
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

As a part of my instrument flight training I was to execute a simulated IFR cross country with a safety pilot. After receiving a WX briefing I filed an IFR flight plan. The WX was VMC and I would be able to conduct the flight with VFR clearance from the clouds. Upon returning to kalamazoo, while being vectored for the approach, the controller requested that I climb to 4000'. My safety pilot informed me that this would put us in the clouds and since neither of us were fully instrument rated, I declined the request. It was through the ensuing question and answer period that I discovered my serious mistake--that a VFR pilot cannot file an IFR flight plan, even if the WX is VMC. There were 2 contributing factors to this event: my own misunderstanding of far part 61.3, paragraph east, and being told by my first instrument to file IFR for a few of our dual flts. Although these flts were conducted dual I did not realize that it was his instrument rating which made this possible. Had I fully understood these 2 things I would not have filed this flight as IFR. As corrective action I spoke with my current instrument as well as the head of our flight department. He is bringing this event up with all instrs in the department to ensure this doesn't happen again. I also reread the far's re: IFR procedures.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA NON IFR RATED PLT FILED IFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: AS A PART OF MY INSTRUMENT FLT TRNING I WAS TO EXECUTE A SIMULATED IFR CROSS COUNTRY WITH A SAFETY PLT. AFTER RECEIVING A WX BRIEFING I FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN. THE WX WAS VMC AND I WOULD BE ABLE TO CONDUCT THE FLT WITH VFR CLRNC FROM THE CLOUDS. UPON RETURNING TO KALAMAZOO, WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR THE APCH, THE CTLR REQUESTED THAT I CLB TO 4000'. MY SAFETY PLT INFORMED ME THAT THIS WOULD PUT US IN THE CLOUDS AND SINCE NEITHER OF US WERE FULLY INSTRUMENT RATED, I DECLINED THE REQUEST. IT WAS THROUGH THE ENSUING QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD THAT I DISCOVERED MY SERIOUS MISTAKE--THAT A VFR PLT CANNOT FILE AN IFR FLT PLAN, EVEN IF THE WX IS VMC. THERE WERE 2 CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THIS EVENT: MY OWN MISUNDERSTANDING OF FAR PART 61.3, PARAGRAPH E, AND BEING TOLD BY MY FIRST INSTR TO FILE IFR FOR A FEW OF OUR DUAL FLTS. ALTHOUGH THESE FLTS WERE CONDUCTED DUAL I DID NOT REALIZE THAT IT WAS HIS INSTRUMENT RATING WHICH MADE THIS POSSIBLE. HAD I FULLY UNDERSTOOD THESE 2 THINGS I WOULD NOT HAVE FILED THIS FLT AS IFR. AS CORRECTIVE ACTION I SPOKE WITH MY CURRENT INSTR AS WELL AS THE HEAD OF OUR FLT DEPT. HE IS BRINGING THIS EVENT UP WITH ALL INSTRS IN THE DEPT TO ENSURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I ALSO REREAD THE FAR'S RE: IFR PROCS.

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.