IMC in VFR flight and unauthorized penetration of airspace, the ont arsa.

Attributes
ACN	148345
Time
Date	199006
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ont
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 5300
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ont
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 1157 flight time type : 900
ASRS Report	148345
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After a standard WX briefing that gave ontario a ceiling of 6000', lancaster 10000' and bakersfield 15000', we departed fullerton on our return VFR flight to sacramento. Due to the improved WX to the east, our plan was to fly to pdx, then up its 010 degree right to I15/215 highway and follow it through the cajon pass. However, due to rising terrain/lowering ceiling and lack of familiarity with the pass, I elected to turn around and land at rialto and wait it out. But, shortly after our 180 degree turn, we inadvertently entered the clouds. At this pint, rather than attempt to return to VFR flight, I continued south to lowering terrain and initiated a climb, then a little later a climbing 360 degree turn. I did ot try to contact control about our situation because at this time I was having problems getting the aircraft to climb due to the 10 degree of flaps I still had on from our attempt at the pass and letting the airspeed go 10K under best climb. By the time I sorted all this out, we were on top and in the clear. Prevention: 1) I will never again attempt an unknown mountain pass in less than perfect WX. 2) I have increased my personal WX requirements to ensure I never again inadvertently enter IMC. Comment: I recognize that due to the WX, mountains, proximity of the arwys, arsa and TCA that this was a very dangerous thing that happened. I am angry that I allowed myself to get into such a dumb situation. This will not happen again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IMC IN VFR FLT AND UNAUTH PENETRATION OF AIRSPACE, THE ONT ARSA.

Narrative: AFTER A STANDARD WX BRIEFING THAT GAVE ONTARIO A CEILING OF 6000', LANCASTER 10000' AND BAKERSFIELD 15000', WE DEPARTED FULLERTON ON OUR RETURN VFR FLT TO SACRAMENTO. DUE TO THE IMPROVED WX TO THE E, OUR PLAN WAS TO FLY TO PDX, THEN UP ITS 010 DEG R TO I15/215 HWY AND FOLLOW IT THROUGH THE CAJON PASS. HOWEVER, DUE TO RISING TERRAIN/LOWERING CEILING AND LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE PASS, I ELECTED TO TURN AROUND AND LAND AT RIALTO AND WAIT IT OUT. BUT, SHORTLY AFTER OUR 180 DEG TURN, WE INADVERTENTLY ENTERED THE CLOUDS. AT THIS PINT, RATHER THAN ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO VFR FLT, I CONTINUED S TO LOWERING TERRAIN AND INITIATED A CLB, THEN A LITTLE LATER A CLBING 360 DEG TURN. I DID OT TRY TO CONTACT CTL ABOUT OUR SITUATION BECAUSE AT THIS TIME I WAS HAVING PROBS GETTING THE ACFT TO CLB DUE TO THE 10 DEG OF FLAPS I STILL HAD ON FROM OUR ATTEMPT AT THE PASS AND LETTING THE AIRSPD GO 10K UNDER BEST CLB. BY THE TIME I SORTED ALL THIS OUT, WE WERE ON TOP AND IN THE CLR. PREVENTION: 1) I WILL NEVER AGAIN ATTEMPT AN UNKNOWN MOUNTAIN PASS IN LESS THAN PERFECT WX. 2) I HAVE INCREASED MY PERSONAL WX REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE I NEVER AGAIN INADVERTENTLY ENTER IMC. COMMENT: I RECOGNIZE THAT DUE TO THE WX, MOUNTAINS, PROX OF THE ARWYS, ARSA AND TCA THAT THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS THING THAT HAPPENED. I AM ANGRY THAT I ALLOWED MYSELF TO GET INTO SUCH A DUMB SITUATION. THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

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.