GA small aircraft VFR in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	104231
Time
Date	198902
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gbr
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5500 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : alb
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 2300
ASRS Report	104231
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I had filed an IFR flight plan with bgr FSS earlier (gbr direct btv). Plan was to takeoff VFR, pick up IFR clearance from alb approach en route. I took off from gbr VFR at 3000'. I called acb approach control for clearance. They were slow getting back to me (as usual). In the distance I could see ahead snow shower. Acb called back, 'maintain VFR, squawk 5506. I rogered. I was climbing toward requested altitude of 7000'. At about 5500' I became IFR. In the next communication with acb approach controller still said maintain VFR. I advised I was IFR. He became irate and yelled and lectured. I advised that it was difficult at night to always stay VFR. Now at 6000' I asked for IFR clearance again. Finally got it. Approach controller advised me to call supervisor upon landing btv. This I did whereupon supervisor advised that it sounded like I had violated an far. My decision to proceed IFR at the time was in part confusion--thinking I had been cleared (was IFR when I had not been). Also, I was over hilly, formidable terrain and did not want to descend.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA VFR IN IMC.

Narrative: I HAD FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN WITH BGR FSS EARLIER (GBR DIRECT BTV). PLAN WAS TO TKOF VFR, PICK UP IFR CLRNC FROM ALB APCH ENRTE. I TOOK OFF FROM GBR VFR AT 3000'. I CALLED ACB APCH CTL FOR CLRNC. THEY WERE SLOW GETTING BACK TO ME (AS USUAL). IN THE DISTANCE I COULD SEE AHEAD SNOW SHOWER. ACB CALLED BACK, 'MAINTAIN VFR, SQUAWK 5506. I ROGERED. I WAS CLBING TOWARD REQUESTED ALT OF 7000'. AT ABOUT 5500' I BECAME IFR. IN THE NEXT COM WITH ACB APCH CTLR STILL SAID MAINTAIN VFR. I ADVISED I WAS IFR. HE BECAME IRATE AND YELLED AND LECTURED. I ADVISED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT AT NIGHT TO ALWAYS STAY VFR. NOW AT 6000' I ASKED FOR IFR CLRNC AGAIN. FINALLY GOT IT. APCH CTLR ADVISED ME TO CALL SUPVR UPON LNDG BTV. THIS I DID WHEREUPON SUPVR ADVISED THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE I HAD VIOLATED AN FAR. MY DECISION TO PROCEED IFR AT THE TIME WAS IN PART CONFUSION--THINKING I HAD BEEN CLRED (WAS IFR WHEN I HAD NOT BEEN). ALSO, I WAS OVER HILLY, FORMIDABLE TERRAIN AND DID NOT WANT TO DSND.

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.