In flight WX encounter, ATC assistance.

Attributes
ACN	101435
Time
Date	198901
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sba
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 14500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ntd
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 92 flight time total : 199 flight time type : 176
ASRS Report	101534
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a VFR flight plan from vgt to sba unforecast deteriorating WX coupled with a series of poor decisions led to my being trapped at 14500' MSL above the clouds with failing light. I contacted pt magu approach and made an IFR descent through clouds and snow with some icing problems. The landing at sba was uneventful. The pt magu controller should be commended for his excellent handling of the situation. At several points along the way I could have made decisions that would have extracted me from the situation. I pressed on further and higher due to a belief the WX was not as bad as it was, and inexperience. I believe an hour of actual instrument time for private pilot would be beneficial, I found it quite different from flying with a hood.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IN FLT WX ENCOUNTER, ATC ASSISTANCE.

Narrative: ON A VFR FLT PLAN FROM VGT TO SBA UNFORECAST DETERIORATING WX COUPLED WITH A SERIES OF POOR DECISIONS LED TO MY BEING TRAPPED AT 14500' MSL ABOVE THE CLOUDS WITH FAILING LIGHT. I CONTACTED PT MAGU APCH AND MADE AN IFR DSCNT THROUGH CLOUDS AND SNOW WITH SOME ICING PROBS. THE LNDG AT SBA WAS UNEVENTFUL. THE PT MAGU CTLR SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR HIS EXCELLENT HANDLING OF THE SITUATION. AT SEVERAL POINTS ALONG THE WAY I COULD HAVE MADE DECISIONS THAT WOULD HAVE EXTRACTED ME FROM THE SITUATION. I PRESSED ON FURTHER AND HIGHER DUE TO A BELIEF THE WX WAS NOT AS BAD AS IT WAS, AND INEXPERIENCE. I BELIEVE AN HOUR OF ACTUAL INSTRUMENT TIME FOR PRIVATE PLT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL, I FOUND IT QUITE DIFFERENT FROM FLYING WITH A HOOD.

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.