VFR small aircraft enters IMC shortly after takeoff from ryy. Requests and receives flight assist fr...

Attributes
ACN	139109
Time
Date	199003
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ryy
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 700 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
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 : 60 flight time total : 163 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	139109
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Forecast WX for VFR conditions on pleasure flight with friend. Turned out of traffic (pattern) ay 700', departing ryy, suddenly I was in IFR conditions. Due to terrain in the immediate vicinity. I immediately climbed to 2500' and broke out above clouds, with scattered to broken conditions below me. First I called dobbin AFB and requested radar assistance and at their instructions, I called atlanta approach and requested assistance (gca) to dobbins AFB. I advised atlanta approach that I was not instrument rated. The vectored me toward cartersville, GA to GA0. I descended to traffic pattern altitude of 1700' MSL in VFR conditions at 4 mi from the airport conditions deteriorated to IMC. I did a 180 degree (turn) and contacted atlanta approach and at their instruction climbed to 3800' MSL in VMC conditions. They vectored me to fty and I saw the airport at 4 mi range and descended and landed VFR. The WX forecast was obviously wrong because at least 4 other aircraft that I know of, during this same period, inadvertently went IFR. It is my opinion that unless you are instrument trained and rated, you don't really know how to fly an airplane.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR SMA ENTERS IMC SHORTLY AFTER TKOF FROM RYY. REQUESTS AND RECEIVES FLT ASSIST FROM ATL APCH CTLR WHO GETS CREDIT FOR THE SAVE.

Narrative: FORECAST WX FOR VFR CONDITIONS ON PLEASURE FLT WITH FRIEND. TURNED OUT OF TFC (PATTERN) AY 700', DEPARTING RYY, SUDDENLY I WAS IN IFR CONDITIONS. DUE TO TERRAIN IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY. I IMMEDIATELY CLBED TO 2500' AND BROKE OUT ABOVE CLOUDS, WITH SCATTERED TO BROKEN CONDITIONS BELOW ME. FIRST I CALLED DOBBIN AFB AND REQUESTED RADAR ASSISTANCE AND AT THEIR INSTRUCTIONS, I CALLED ATLANTA APCH AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE (GCA) TO DOBBINS AFB. I ADVISED ATLANTA APCH THAT I WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. THE VECTORED ME TOWARD CARTERSVILLE, GA TO GA0. I DSNDED TO TFC PATTERN ALT OF 1700' MSL IN VFR CONDITIONS AT 4 MI FROM THE ARPT CONDITIONS DETERIORATED TO IMC. I DID A 180 DEG (TURN) AND CONTACTED ATLANTA APCH AND AT THEIR INSTRUCTION CLBED TO 3800' MSL IN VMC CONDITIONS. THEY VECTORED ME TO FTY AND I SAW THE ARPT AT 4 MI RANGE AND DSNDED AND LANDED VFR. THE WX FORECAST WAS OBVIOUSLY WRONG BECAUSE AT LEAST 4 OTHER ACFT THAT I KNOW OF, DURING THIS SAME PERIOD, INADVERTENTLY WENT IFR. IT IS MY OPINION THAT UNLESS YOU ARE INSTRUMENT TRAINED AND RATED, YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO FLY AN AIRPLANE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.

VFR small aircraft enters IMC shortly after takeoff from ryy. Requests and receives flight assist from atl approach controller who gets credit for the save.