Took off VFR in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	103542
Time
Date	198901
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : vis
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 0 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : initial climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 145 flight time total : 4150 flight time type : 1980
ASRS Report	103542
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed visalia at XA56 am. WX inbound at XA30 had been reported as 2H. We sighted airport between 3 and 4 mi from end of runway. WX report at time of departure was nearly 1 hour old. On taxi I observed trees south of airport approximately 3-4 mi away airport beacon was not operating. Departed visibility making appropriate calls on 123.0 visibility unicom. Had just reported across OM. No other observed traffic in area. On climb out, while still on unicom frequency, an unidented person called and asked for call sign of aircraft that had departed visibility 3 mins ago climbing through 2400'. I responded with our call sign. He asked if beacon was operating. I stated negative. He stated visibility was reporting 2 mi in haze. I responded that I had observed visibility to be higher that that. That was the end of conversation. I don't think visibility WX observers had updated WX with an sp as required when visibility went above 3 mi. Nor was the airport beacon operating as required.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TOOK OFF VFR IN IMC.

Narrative: DEPARTED VISALIA AT XA56 AM. WX INBND AT XA30 HAD BEEN RPTED AS 2H. WE SIGHTED ARPT BTWN 3 AND 4 MI FROM END OF RWY. WX RPT AT TIME OF DEP WAS NEARLY 1 HR OLD. ON TAXI I OBSERVED TREES S OF ARPT APPROX 3-4 MI AWAY ARPT BEACON WAS NOT OPERATING. DEPARTED VIS MAKING APPROPRIATE CALLS ON 123.0 VIS UNICOM. HAD JUST RPTED ACROSS OM. NO OTHER OBSERVED TFC IN AREA. ON CLBOUT, WHILE STILL ON UNICOM FREQ, AN UNIDENTED PERSON CALLED AND ASKED FOR CALL SIGN OF ACFT THAT HAD DEPARTED VIS 3 MINS AGO CLBING THROUGH 2400'. I RESPONDED WITH OUR CALL SIGN. HE ASKED IF BEACON WAS OPERATING. I STATED NEGATIVE. HE STATED VISIBILITY WAS RPTING 2 MI IN HAZE. I RESPONDED THAT I HAD OBSERVED VISIBILITY TO BE HIGHER THAT THAT. THAT WAS THE END OF CONVERSATION. I DON'T THINK VIS WX OBSERVERS HAD UPDATED WX WITH AN SP AS REQUIRED WHEN VISIBILITY WENT ABOVE 3 MI. NOR WAS THE ARPT BEACON OPERATING AS REQUIRED.

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.