IMC in VFR flight occurs as instructor pilot pushes for a takeoff in marginal VFR WX.

Attributes
ACN	179804
Time
Date	199105
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mac
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 900 msl bound upper : 900
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mcn
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude climbout : takeoff cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 970 flight time type : 650
ASRS Report	179804
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I asked an italian student who is familiar with IFR procedures to get a void time. He returned with a void time of :36, which was about 6 mins away. On the runway I asked for the squawk code and found he wasn't given one, or a clearance. I determined he did not have a void time. We departed and attempted to get our clearance. We were given a typical IFR squawk code and told to maintain VFR. I informed the controller we would not be able to maintain VFR very long. He informed me someone else had a void time at the airport and was unable to give us ours. During this we lost sight of the airport. Because of our low altitude and the low ceiling, I declared an emergency. I went to the ATC facility that afternoon to discuss the situation with the supervisor, and was told the student was given an expect departure clearance time.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IMC IN VFR FLT OCCURS AS INSTRUCTOR PLT PUSHES FOR A TKOF IN MARGINAL VFR WX.

Narrative: I ASKED AN ITALIAN STUDENT WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH IFR PROCS TO GET A VOID TIME. HE RETURNED WITH A VOID TIME OF :36, WHICH WAS ABOUT 6 MINS AWAY. ON THE RWY I ASKED FOR THE SQUAWK CODE AND FOUND HE WASN'T GIVEN ONE, OR A CLRNC. I DETERMINED HE DID NOT HAVE A VOID TIME. WE DEPARTED AND ATTEMPTED TO GET OUR CLRNC. WE WERE GIVEN A TYPICAL IFR SQUAWK CODE AND TOLD TO MAINTAIN VFR. I INFORMED THE CTLR WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN VFR VERY LONG. HE INFORMED ME SOMEONE ELSE HAD A VOID TIME AT THE ARPT AND WAS UNABLE TO GIVE US OURS. DURING THIS WE LOST SIGHT OF THE ARPT. BECAUSE OF OUR LOW ALT AND THE LOW CEILING, I DECLARED AN EMER. I WENT TO THE ATC FAC THAT AFTERNOON TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION WITH THE SUPVR, AND WAS TOLD THE STUDENT WAS GIVEN AN EXPECT DEP CLRNC TIME.

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.