After listening to AWOS; a pilot departed bgm VFR but discovered the ceiling to be sct/broken 002 an...

Attributes
ACN	1199898
Time
Date	201409
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	BGM.Airport
State Reference	NY
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft Low Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Private Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35 Flight Crew Total 1250 Flight Crew Type 65
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Other / Unknown Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

Narrative:

On the ground at bgm; I obtained ATIS; XA04z speci; 020/3 V6 br BKN042 21/19 A3005; ILS 16 in use. Based on this ATIS I decided to try a VFR departure to 2;500 MSL. At 100 AGL on takeoff from runway 16; I observed that the ceiling was not even close to BKN042 and was more like sct/broken 002; aka nearly ILS minimums. I contacted bgm tower; stated I was unable to continue VFR; circled right for runway 16; remained clear of clouds; and landed without incident. On landing I telephoned the bgm AWOS and obtained a report of SCT011. Neither one of these weather reports; not the ATIS recorded at XA04z and not the AWOS announcement obtained at about XB05z; was even close to the actual weather. I believe the root cause of the problem was an incorrect ATIS broadcast at bgm and an incorrect AWOS announcement at bgm. I believe the situation can be corrected by inspecting and repairing the bgm AWOS as required and then auditing and repairing the training for those recording the bgm ATIS as required.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: After listening to AWOS; a pilot departed BGM VFR but discovered the ceiling to be SCT/BKN 002 and so he returned to the airport where he reported both the ATIS and AWOS were incorrect.

Narrative: On the ground at BGM; I obtained ATIS; XA04z SPECI; 020/3 V6 BR BKN042 21/19 A3005; ILS 16 in use. Based on this ATIS I decided to try a VFR departure to 2;500 MSL. At 100 AGL on takeoff from Runway 16; I observed that the ceiling was not even close to BKN042 and was more like SCT/BKN 002; aka nearly ILS minimums. I contacted BGM Tower; stated I was unable to continue VFR; circled right for Runway 16; remained clear of clouds; and landed without incident. On landing I telephoned the BGM AWOS and obtained a report of SCT011. Neither one of these weather reports; not the ATIS recorded at XA04z and not the AWOS announcement obtained at about XB05z; was even close to the actual weather. I believe the root cause of the problem was an incorrect ATIS broadcast at BGM and an incorrect AWOS announcement at BGM. I believe the situation can be corrected by inspecting and repairing the BGM AWOS as required and then auditing and repairing the training for those recording the BGM ATIS as required.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

After listening to AWOS; a pilot departed bgm VFR but discovered the ceiling to be sct/broken 002 and so he returned to the airport where he reported both the ATIS and AWOS were incorrect.