Pilot on VFR flight attempted to obtain IFR clearance through MOA. Unable. Descended to 4000' to avo...

Attributes
ACN	178424
Time
Date	199105
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pam
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pam
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 2980 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	178424
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While trying to obtain an IFR clearance for approved flight through tyndall AFB MOA, had to make altitude change from 4500 to 4000' to maintain VFR. Flight from north perry airport to pensacola via cross city and panama city. FSS briefing advised VFR whole route while over gulf V521. Requested flight following and then requested IFR clearance. Clearance refused. No reason given. I was above MOA at 4500'. Was told to maintain VFR. Changed altitude to 4000' due to turbulence. Tyndall AFB approach advised I was to be at 4500'. Panama city VOR OTS. No way to navigation except by estimated headings. After about 40 mi given IFR clearance, but now was in the clear. On return flight again advised VFR whole route. Climbed to 5500' after approved, again above MOA (ceiling at 4000'). Many clouds and turbulence asked for clearance after air filing a flight plan and was refused. This was IFR flight plan and was advised by FSS to pick up clearance from tyndall approach. Again had trouble holding 5500' due to turbulence. Finally given a clearance IFR. Very bumpy. Deviated from altitude assigned 5000' by 400' because of turbulence. Lesson learned: file IFR even if not needed to get through special use airspace. Can cancel later if not needed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT ON VFR FLT ATTEMPTED TO OBTAIN IFR CLRNC THROUGH MOA. UNABLE. DESCENDED TO 4000' TO AVOID WX. ENTERED MOA.

Narrative: WHILE TRYING TO OBTAIN AN IFR CLRNC FOR APPROVED FLT THROUGH TYNDALL AFB MOA, HAD TO MAKE ALT CHANGE FROM 4500 TO 4000' TO MAINTAIN VFR. FLT FROM N PERRY ARPT TO PENSACOLA VIA CROSS CITY AND PANAMA CITY. FSS BRIEFING ADVISED VFR WHOLE RTE WHILE OVER GULF V521. REQUESTED FLT FOLLOWING AND THEN REQUESTED IFR CLRNC. CLRNC REFUSED. NO REASON GIVEN. I WAS ABOVE MOA AT 4500'. WAS TOLD TO MAINTAIN VFR. CHANGED ALT TO 4000' DUE TO TURB. TYNDALL AFB APCH ADVISED I WAS TO BE AT 4500'. PANAMA CITY VOR OTS. NO WAY TO NAV EXCEPT BY ESTIMATED HDGS. AFTER ABOUT 40 MI GIVEN IFR CLRNC, BUT NOW WAS IN THE CLR. ON RETURN FLT AGAIN ADVISED VFR WHOLE RTE. CLBED TO 5500' AFTER APPROVED, AGAIN ABOVE MOA (CEILING AT 4000'). MANY CLOUDS AND TURB ASKED FOR CLRNC AFTER AIR FILING A FLT PLAN AND WAS REFUSED. THIS WAS IFR FLT PLAN AND WAS ADVISED BY FSS TO PICK UP CLRNC FROM TYNDALL APCH. AGAIN HAD TROUBLE HOLDING 5500' DUE TO TURB. FINALLY GIVEN A CLRNC IFR. VERY BUMPY. DEVIATED FROM ALT ASSIGNED 5000' BY 400' BECAUSE OF TURB. LESSON LEARNED: FILE IFR EVEN IF NOT NEEDED TO GET THROUGH SPECIAL USE AIRSPACE. CAN CANCEL LATER IF NOT NEEDED.

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.

Pilot on VFR flight attempted to obtain IFR clearance through MOA. Unable. Descended to 4000' to avoid WX. Entered MOA.