IMC in VFR flight.

Attributes
ACN	179901
Time
Date	199105
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pit
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 11 flight time total : 365
ASRS Report	179901
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On 5/mon/91, I filed a VFR flight plan from jto to mfd and departed jto approximately ab am. Route of flight was direct, LORAN navigation to mfd. Because of extensive ground fog in wv, the flight plan was filed 'over the top' to mfd, which had scattered clouds and unrestricted visibility. About 1 pm, I contacted pit approach and advised them of my position (30+ mi southeast and flying over the TCA, landing mfd). After establishing contact with pit, I continued to fly a northwest heading across the southwest quarter of the TCA. Approach control then advised me that my route of flight was directly at a thunderstorm cell west of pit. I advised that I had visibility contact and started reviewing my options. Before I could decide which route to take around the storm, I was in reduced visibility and rain below VFR conditions. At this point, with conditions deteriorating rapidly, I requested a vector around the cell from approach. Flying a new heading, I was back in VFR conditions in about 5 mins.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IMC IN VFR FLT.

Narrative: ON 5/MON/91, I FILED A VFR FLT PLAN FROM JTO TO MFD AND DEPARTED JTO APPROX AB AM. RTE OF FLT WAS DIRECT, LORAN NAV TO MFD. BECAUSE OF EXTENSIVE GND FOG IN WV, THE FLT PLAN WAS FILED 'OVER THE TOP' TO MFD, WHICH HAD SCATTERED CLOUDS AND UNRESTRICTED VISIBILITY. ABOUT 1 PM, I CONTACTED PIT APCH AND ADVISED THEM OF MY POS (30+ MI SE AND FLYING OVER THE TCA, LNDG MFD). AFTER ESTABLISHING CONTACT WITH PIT, I CONTINUED TO FLY A NW HDG ACROSS THE SW QUARTER OF THE TCA. APCH CTL THEN ADVISED ME THAT MY RTE OF FLT WAS DIRECTLY AT A TSTM CELL W OF PIT. I ADVISED THAT I HAD VIS CONTACT AND STARTED REVIEWING MY OPTIONS. BEFORE I COULD DECIDE WHICH RTE TO TAKE AROUND THE STORM, I WAS IN REDUCED VISIBILITY AND RAIN BELOW VFR CONDITIONS. AT THIS POINT, WITH CONDITIONS DETERIORATING RAPIDLY, I REQUESTED A VECTOR AROUND THE CELL FROM APCH. FLYING A NEW HDG, I WAS BACK IN VFR CONDITIONS IN ABOUT 5 MINS.

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.