Continued VFR flight into IMC conditions.

Attributes
ACN	141857
Time
Date	199004
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : den airport : apa
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : den
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 1360 flight time type : 130
ASRS Report	141857
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Having flown to the practice area in VMC conditions, proceeded to return to apa. From heading of 240 degrees turned to heading of 330 degrees for localizer intercept at approximately 38 DME south of den VOR. At approximately 24 DME south, den approach gave us a descent to 8000' from the previous altitude of 9000'. The ILS 35R localizer approach was in use (G/south OTS), and we had been instructed by den approach to maintain VFR. Prior to the LOM, we were handed off to apa tower and reported inbound with advisory from apa tower that an amended ATIS was in progress. At this point, we were still in VMC conditions and remained so until approximately 17 DME south. From that point on, the approach was continued to landing in marginal VFR to lo IFR conditions west/O a pop-up or SVFR request in consideration of the proximity to the airport and runway visibility maintained.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CONTINUED VFR FLT INTO IMC CONDITIONS.

Narrative: HAVING FLOWN TO THE PRACTICE AREA IN VMC CONDITIONS, PROCEEDED TO RETURN TO APA. FROM HDG OF 240 DEGS TURNED TO HDG OF 330 DEGS FOR LOC INTERCEPT AT APPROX 38 DME S OF DEN VOR. AT APPROX 24 DME S, DEN APCH GAVE US A DSNT TO 8000' FROM THE PREVIOUS ALT OF 9000'. THE ILS 35R LOC APCH WAS IN USE (G/S OTS), AND WE HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED BY DEN APCH TO MAINTAIN VFR. PRIOR TO THE LOM, WE WERE HANDED OFF TO APA TWR AND RPTED INBND WITH ADVISORY FROM APA TWR THAT AN AMENDED ATIS WAS IN PROGRESS. AT THIS POINT, WE WERE STILL IN VMC CONDITIONS AND REMAINED SO UNTIL APPROX 17 DME S. FROM THAT POINT ON, THE APCH WAS CONTINUED TO LNDG IN MARGINAL VFR TO LO IFR CONDITIONS W/O A POP-UP OR SVFR REQUEST IN CONSIDERATION OF THE PROX TO THE ARPT AND RWY VIS MAINTAINED.

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.