VFR flight encountered IMC in hazardous terrain area.

Attributes
ACN	111076
Time
Date	198905
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : san
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4200 msl bound upper : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : san
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 280 flight time type : 280
ASRS Report	111076
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on a VFR flight plan from cxl to myf. WX was clear and unrestricted east of mountains. WX briefing from FSS included 'with tops obscured' and myf was reporting 2800' scattered, 3500' broken. See was reporting 2000' overcast. In talking to eastbound pilots at cxl and mxl, the san diego WX was described as VFR with many breaks in overcast and 1000-2000' ceilings over mountains. While flying west following freeway at approximately 4200-4500', approximately 1000' below the clouds, the WX suddenly deteriorated to 0 ceiling with mountains obscured on right and left of plane. Suddenly I was in a cloud. Because of uncertain terrain clearance began immediate climb at vx and called FSS on 121.5. Advised them that I was VFR flight in IMC, climbing over the mountains. San approach control came on 121.5 and requested change to approach frequency. Broke out on top at 6500'. I was given option of vectors toward myf, but declined and returned VFR to ipl. Later found out there was a 50 car pile-up due to fog on freeway near alpine. It would be nice to have a more accurate WX report of ceilings and visibility over mountain passes.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR FLT ENCOUNTERED IMC IN HAZARDOUS TERRAIN AREA.

Narrative: I WAS ON A VFR FLT PLAN FROM CXL TO MYF. WX WAS CLEAR AND UNRESTRICTED E OF MOUNTAINS. WX BRIEFING FROM FSS INCLUDED 'WITH TOPS OBSCURED' AND MYF WAS RPTING 2800' SCATTERED, 3500' BROKEN. SEE WAS RPTING 2000' OVCST. IN TALKING TO EBND PLTS AT CXL AND MXL, THE SAN DIEGO WX WAS DESCRIBED AS VFR WITH MANY BREAKS IN OVCST AND 1000-2000' CEILINGS OVER MOUNTAINS. WHILE FLYING W FOLLOWING FREEWAY AT APPROX 4200-4500', APPROX 1000' BELOW THE CLOUDS, THE WX SUDDENLY DETERIORATED TO 0 CEILING WITH MOUNTAINS OBSCURED ON RIGHT AND LEFT OF PLANE. SUDDENLY I WAS IN A CLOUD. BECAUSE OF UNCERTAIN TERRAIN CLRNC BEGAN IMMEDIATE CLB AT VX AND CALLED FSS ON 121.5. ADVISED THEM THAT I WAS VFR FLT IN IMC, CLBING OVER THE MOUNTAINS. SAN APCH CTL CAME ON 121.5 AND REQUESTED CHANGE TO APCH FREQ. BROKE OUT ON TOP AT 6500'. I WAS GIVEN OPTION OF VECTORS TOWARD MYF, BUT DECLINED AND RETURNED VFR TO IPL. LATER FOUND OUT THERE WAS A 50 CAR PILE-UP DUE TO FOG ON FREEWAY NEAR ALPINE. IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A MORE ACCURATE WX RPT OF CEILINGS AND VISIBILITY OVER MOUNTAIN PASSES.

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.