Narrative:

On 12/sun/90, I received 2 WX briefings from ict FSS, both of which indicated that my ultimate destination of garden city, ks, was out of the question because of WX. Both briefings did, however, indicate that ict was 3000' scattered and 5000' overcast, with a possibility of deteriorating conditions, but still VFR WX. I departed eureka, ks at approximately XX20 for the 30 min or 50 mi flight to ict. When reaching el dorado, ks. I was able to pick wichita mid-continent ATIS information, which indicated 500' scattered, 1200' overcast; however I was in quickly deteriorating conditions. Contacting ict approach, I was informed ict was 500' overcast and advised to stay clear of the arsa. My altitude was of concern to me, and I decided to climb to a safer altitude above the lower layer, which I did. Ict approach then was able to pick up my transponder and gave me a squawk and vectors to stay clear of the arsa and an on course heading to emporia, ks, which was VFR. After a few mins they handed me off to ZKC, which monitored my progress to emporia where I landed safely at approximately XY30. On a personal note: I did what under the circumstances I felt was best for the safety of my passenger and my aircraft. I have spent numerous hours flying right seat in IFR conditions and after climbing to a safe altitude, was never concerned about the safe conclusion of my flight. I do want to add that both ict approach and ZKC were very professional and very eager to help.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT OF SMA ENCOUNTERED IMC CONDITIONS AT 500' AGL. CLIMBED OBTAINED RADAR ASSISTANCE TO EMPORIA ARPT WHERE WX WAS VFR.

Narrative: ON 12/SUN/90, I RECEIVED 2 WX BRIEFINGS FROM ICT FSS, BOTH OF WHICH INDICATED THAT MY ULTIMATE DEST OF GARDEN CITY, KS, WAS OUT OF THE QUESTION BECAUSE OF WX. BOTH BRIEFINGS DID, HOWEVER, INDICATE THAT ICT WAS 3000' SCATTERED AND 5000' OVCST, WITH A POSSIBILITY OF DETERIORATING CONDITIONS, BUT STILL VFR WX. I DEPARTED EUREKA, KS AT APPROX XX20 FOR THE 30 MIN OR 50 MI FLT TO ICT. WHEN REACHING EL DORADO, KS. I WAS ABLE TO PICK WICHITA MID-CONTINENT ATIS INFO, WHICH INDICATED 500' SCATTERED, 1200' OVCST; HOWEVER I WAS IN QUICKLY DETERIORATING CONDITIONS. CONTACTING ICT APCH, I WAS INFORMED ICT WAS 500' OVCST AND ADVISED TO STAY CLR OF THE ARSA. MY ALT WAS OF CONCERN TO ME, AND I DECIDED TO CLB TO A SAFER ALT ABOVE THE LOWER LAYER, WHICH I DID. ICT APCH THEN WAS ABLE TO PICK UP MY XPONDER AND GAVE ME A SQUAWK AND VECTORS TO STAY CLR OF THE ARSA AND AN ON COURSE HDG TO EMPORIA, KS, WHICH WAS VFR. AFTER A FEW MINS THEY HANDED ME OFF TO ZKC, WHICH MONITORED MY PROGRESS TO EMPORIA WHERE I LANDED SAFELY AT APPROX XY30. ON A PERSONAL NOTE: I DID WHAT UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES I FELT WAS BEST FOR THE SAFETY OF MY PAX AND MY ACFT. I HAVE SPENT NUMEROUS HRS FLYING RIGHT SEAT IN IFR CONDITIONS AND AFTER CLBING TO A SAFE ALT, WAS NEVER CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFE CONCLUSION OF MY FLT. I DO WANT TO ADD THAT BOTH ICT APCH AND ZKC WERE VERY PROFESSIONAL AND VERY EAGER TO HELP.

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.