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PA28 pilot reports being unable to obtain fuel at a planned fuel stop and electing to continue VFR over approaching frontal weather. Class a airspace is entered avoiding clouds which are noticed by ATC. ATC provides assistance to the private pilot to descend in IMC to 5;000 ft for a visual approach at a suitable airport.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1118803 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201309 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZDV.ARTCC |
| State Reference | CO |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Route In Use | Direct |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Private |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 28.4 Flight Crew Total 165 Flight Crew Type 62.8 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Airspace Violation All Types Deviation - Procedural FAR Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence |
Narrative:
Originating from ptt we were direct VFR to destination. I landed at ggf for a break and to be topped off with fuel. The airport had no power therefore no avgas. It was unlimited ceiling and visibility with the front visible from the runway. We climbed to 10;500 ft for an hour or so and proceeded to climb over the rising cloud deck. When I broke through class alpha I knew I was caught on top. The controller reminded me I had broke through; but to maintain clear of clouds I told him I needed to stay up. Turning around and heading back to ggf was not possible since I only had 2.5 hours of fuel left and was 2.5 hours away from a VFR airport without a ceiling. I chose to continue northbound. The controller was super helpful by talking me through the cloud deck; 9;000-5;000 ft. Once below the deck I landed. The problem arose;1. Lack of fuel to turn back caused by power outage at airport.2. Not IFR rated.contributing factors.1. Several cloud layers and being boxed in at a rapid rate. Corrective actions.1. Complete IFR rating.2. Make decisions to turn back earlier. Center was a great help.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PA28 pilot reports being unable to obtain fuel at a planned fuel stop and electing to continue VFR over approaching frontal weather. Class A airspace is entered avoiding clouds which are noticed by ATC. ATC provides assistance to the private pilot to descend in IMC to 5;000 FT for a visual approach at a suitable airport.
Narrative: Originating from PTT we were direct VFR to destination. I landed at GGF for a break and to be topped off with fuel. The airport had no power therefore no avgas. It was unlimited ceiling and visibility with the front visible from the runway. We climbed to 10;500 FT for an hour or so and proceeded to climb over the rising cloud deck. When I broke through class alpha I knew I was caught on top. The Controller reminded me I had broke through; but to maintain clear of clouds I told him I needed to stay up. Turning around and heading back to GGF was not possible since I only had 2.5 hours of fuel left and was 2.5 hours away from a VFR airport without a ceiling. I chose to continue northbound. The Controller was super helpful by talking me through the cloud deck; 9;000-5;000 FT. Once below the deck I landed. The problem arose;1. Lack of fuel to turn back caused by power outage at airport.2. Not IFR rated.Contributing factors.1. Several cloud layers and being boxed in at a rapid rate. Corrective actions.1. Complete IFR rating.2. Make decisions to turn back earlier. Center was a great help.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.