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Pilot of small aircraft flying non flight plan to latrobe encountered a cloud layer that he let down through to locate latrobe airport.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 182526 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199107 |
| Day | Mon |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : lbe |
| State Reference | PA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 700 msl bound upper : 8500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : cle |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent other landing other |
| Route In Use | enroute airway : v12 |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 6 flight time total : 193 flight time type : 70 |
| ASRS Report | 182526 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far |
| Independent Detector | other other : unspecified cockpit |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Departed ttn after obtaining standard WX briefing indicating VFR conditions through entire trip. Climbed out to 8500' MSL. Flew w-ward along V12. Around harrisburg, sky cover changed from 3/10 coverage to total coverage. At the time, lbe was reporting 8000' scattered, 3F. Upon arriving at 23 NM west of jst, began descent. At 5000' MSL, penetrated clouds. At this point, I had enough fuel for about 45 mins and had no other choice but to descent. While not instrument rated, I do have substantial instrument training. Requested SVFR to enter the control zone and safely landed. I feel I made the right decision. I felt confident enough to handle the situation and had the experience to handle it.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF SMA FLYING NON FLT PLAN TO LATROBE ENCOUNTERED A CLOUD LAYER THAT HE LET DOWN THROUGH TO LOCATE LATROBE ARPT.
Narrative: DEPARTED TTN AFTER OBTAINING STANDARD WX BRIEFING INDICATING VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH ENTIRE TRIP. CLBED OUT TO 8500' MSL. FLEW W-WARD ALONG V12. AROUND HARRISBURG, SKY COVER CHANGED FROM 3/10 COVERAGE TO TOTAL COVERAGE. AT THE TIME, LBE WAS RPTING 8000' SCATTERED, 3F. UPON ARRIVING AT 23 NM W OF JST, BEGAN DSNT. AT 5000' MSL, PENETRATED CLOUDS. AT THIS POINT, I HAD ENOUGH FUEL FOR ABOUT 45 MINS AND HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO DSNT. WHILE NOT INSTRUMENT RATED, I DO HAVE SUBSTANTIAL INSTRUMENT TRNING. REQUESTED SVFR TO ENTER THE CTL ZONE AND SAFELY LANDED. I FEEL I MADE THE RIGHT DECISION. I FELT CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE SITUATION AND HAD THE EXPERIENCE TO HANDLE IT.
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.