Narrative:

Flight planned over 2 days; filled out IFR plan night before in foreflight but left out alternate pending review of am weather. Filed IFR plan after reviewing standard briefing; including metar + taf for ZZZ; but neglected to reconsider and add appropriate alternate - first mistake. Taf indicated P6SM BKN035 with prior P6SM SCT012 BKN030. Departed; with ZZZ metar 4SM broken 004. Second mistake - did I really expect the forecasted weather an hour later? Departure; climb and cruise phases were without incident. I picked up the ZZZ ATIS at ZZZ VOR and indicated the same; minimal wind; landing [runway] xxr. I briefed the approach and missed approach in detail; in part for benefit of private/non-IFR copilot; and loaded it. Third mistake - the ceiling was below my personal minimums and I should have considered diverting; perhaps worse; I did not consider where to divert. Flight continued without problems but I was not able to engage the autopilot app mode and from IAF; zzzzz; I had some difficulty staying on the localizer. At approximately 1.4 out from the runway; though now on the localizer; I was high; noted by tower as well; and I felt that I did not have a stabilized approach and elected to go missed. Notably; from about ZZZ VOR to ZZZ we were in IMC. On the missed; I was concentrating on flying the airplane; maintaining coordinated flight and climbed above the 1500 ft ceiling by about 200-300ft. Tower inquired about intentions and I did not respond for about 60 sec; again; flying the airplane but also; frankly; trying my best to analyze my options. Tower; thankfully; gave me ZZZ1 ATIS and diverted there. Corrective action: one; always file and plan for an alternate; two; to secure as needed CFI time to improve approaches and missed app procedures.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C182 pilot reported a missed approach and use of an unplanned alternate airport due to weather conditions.

Narrative: Flight planned over 2 days; filled out IFR plan night before in ForeFlight but left out alternate pending review of AM weather. Filed IFR plan after reviewing standard briefing; including METAR + TAF for ZZZ; but neglected to reconsider and add appropriate alternate - first mistake. TAF indicated P6SM BKN035 with prior P6SM SCT012 BKN030. Departed; with ZZZ METAR 4SM BKN 004. Second mistake - did I really expect the forecasted weather an hour later? Departure; climb and cruise phases were without incident. I picked up the ZZZ ATIS at ZZZ VOR and indicated the same; minimal wind; landing [Runway] XXR. I briefed the approach and missed approach in detail; in part for benefit of private/non-IFR copilot; and loaded it. Third mistake - the ceiling was below my personal minimums and I should have considered diverting; perhaps worse; I did not consider where to divert. Flight continued without problems but I was not able to engage the autopilot APP mode and from IAF; ZZZZZ; I had some difficulty staying on the localizer. At approximately 1.4 out from the runway; though now on the localizer; I was high; noted by Tower as well; and I felt that I did not have a stabilized approach and elected to go missed. Notably; from about ZZZ VOR to ZZZ we were in IMC. On the missed; I was concentrating on flying the airplane; maintaining coordinated flight and climbed above the 1500 ft ceiling by about 200-300ft. Tower inquired about intentions and I did not respond for about 60 sec; again; flying the airplane but also; frankly; trying my best to analyze my options. Tower; thankfully; gave me ZZZ1 ATIS and diverted there. Corrective action: one; always file and plan for an alternate; two; to secure as needed CFI time to improve approaches and missed app procedures.

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.