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BE33 pilot reported flying VFR into IMC. The pilot exited IMC and continued VFR to destination.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1681870 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201909 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Marginal |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Bonanza 33 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Initial Climb |
| Route In Use | None |
| Flight Plan | SVFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Glider Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Private |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40 Flight Crew Total 1020 Flight Crew Type 25 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Airspace Violation All Types Deviation - Procedural FAR Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence |
Narrative:
Was departing ZZZ for ZZZ1; about 20nm south along the coast. I had just driven up the coast along this approximate route; and the weather enroute was reasonable VFR with ceilings above 1;000 ft and visibilities 5 miles or more. Weather a few miles [inland] was scattered cu (cumulonimbus) with clear skies above. ZZZ was reporting 700 overcast with 6 miles visibility; and I asked for a SVFR departure to the south. Looking along the runway heading there was no evident change in the ceiling or visibility. Shortly after departure; I informed ZZZ tower that I was clear of their class D; and received 'frequency change approved'. Conditions then rapidly deteriorated with lowering ceiling and visibility. I descended to about 300 ft MSL over the water before deciding that the only safe option was to climb. I climbed to about 2;500 ft MSL; breaking out on top of the marine layer about 2;000 ft MSL. The rest of the flight was uneventful; and I found the weather at ZZZ1 good VFR as I had expected; with clear skies [inland].lessons learned: I have an instrument rating; but am not current; else I would have filed IFR. I will get an ipc (instrument proficiency check) so that I do not place myself in this situation again! With hindsight; a better decision would have been to depart SVFR [inland] where the weather was clearly good VFR. Low marine layer conditions can be patchy and unpredictable. Given my encounter with the suddenly lower ceiling and visibility; I clearly made the right decision for the safety of the flight; but in the process briefly flew in class east airspace in IMC without a clearance.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: BE33 pilot reported flying VFR into IMC. The pilot exited IMC and continued VFR to destination.
Narrative: Was departing ZZZ for ZZZ1; about 20nm S along the coast. I had just driven up the coast along this approximate route; and the weather enroute was reasonable VFR with ceilings above 1;000 ft and visibilities 5 miles or more. Weather a few miles [inland] was scattered Cu (Cumulonimbus) with clear skies above. ZZZ was reporting 700 overcast with 6 miles visibility; and I asked for a SVFR departure to the South. Looking along the runway heading there was no evident change in the ceiling or visibility. Shortly after departure; I informed ZZZ tower that I was clear of their Class D; and received 'frequency change approved'. Conditions then rapidly deteriorated with lowering ceiling and visibility. I descended to about 300 ft MSL over the water before deciding that the only safe option was to climb. I climbed to about 2;500 ft MSL; breaking out on top of the marine layer about 2;000 ft MSL. The rest of the flight was uneventful; and I found the weather at ZZZ1 good VFR as I had expected; with clear skies [inland].Lessons learned: I have an instrument rating; but am not current; else I would have filed IFR. I will get an IPC (Instrument Proficiency Check) so that I do not place myself in this situation again! With hindsight; a better decision would have been to depart SVFR [inland] where the weather was clearly good VFR. Low marine layer conditions can be patchy and unpredictable. Given my encounter with the suddenly lower ceiling and visibility; I clearly made the right decision for the safety of the flight; but in the process briefly flew in Class E airspace in IMC without a clearance.
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.