GA small aircraft on a currency flight VFR in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	151831
Time
Date	199007
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lgb
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sna artcc : zny
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 410 flight time type : 90
ASRS Report	151831
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On IFR robin currency flight departing sna direct lgb (NDB) direct ful (VOR a) direct sna (ILS). After initial contact with coast (124.65) told them my plan listed above. After executing missed approach at lgb was told by tower to turn south and climb to 1000'. Then told to contact coast approach who told me to climb to 1600' in VFR. Control zone was MVFR and I was flying into the clouds, so I told them unable to remain VFR. Coast told me again to remain VFR, but I was now in the clouds. I again told them unable, in the clouds. They said that I was not cleared IFR and should have landed if I could not have remained VFR. Finally told me climb and maintain 1600'. I felt that I was on an IFR flight plan and to vector me into IMC or MVFR conditions with only a VFR clearance at the last min was inappropriate. I suppose I should have told him the control zone was IMC or mifr, but I didn't.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA ON A CURRENCY FLT VFR IN IMC.

Narrative: ON IFR ROBIN CURRENCY FLT DEPARTING SNA DIRECT LGB (NDB) DIRECT FUL (VOR A) DIRECT SNA (ILS). AFTER INITIAL CONTACT WITH COAST (124.65) TOLD THEM MY PLAN LISTED ABOVE. AFTER EXECUTING MISSED APCH AT LGB WAS TOLD BY TWR TO TURN S AND CLB TO 1000'. THEN TOLD TO CONTACT COAST APCH WHO TOLD ME TO CLB TO 1600' IN VFR. CTL ZONE WAS MVFR AND I WAS FLYING INTO THE CLOUDS, SO I TOLD THEM UNABLE TO REMAIN VFR. COAST TOLD ME AGAIN TO REMAIN VFR, BUT I WAS NOW IN THE CLOUDS. I AGAIN TOLD THEM UNABLE, IN THE CLOUDS. THEY SAID THAT I WAS NOT CLRED IFR AND SHOULD HAVE LANDED IF I COULD NOT HAVE REMAINED VFR. FINALLY TOLD ME CLB AND MAINTAIN 1600'. I FELT THAT I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN AND TO VECTOR ME INTO IMC OR MVFR CONDITIONS WITH ONLY A VFR CLRNC AT THE LAST MIN WAS INAPPROPRIATE. I SUPPOSE I SHOULD HAVE TOLD HIM THE CTL ZONE WAS IMC OR MIFR, BUT I DIDN'T.

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.