Pilot of small transport freighter on special VFR flight plan encountered IMC at 550 MSL.

Attributes
ACN	188863
Time
Date	199109
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : acv airport : eka
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 550 msl bound upper : 550
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zse
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	approach : svfr
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 290 flight time total : 3100 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	188863
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I needed a special VFR to eureka. Far 135 doesn't allow me to do an approach there since no WX is reported at eureka murray only arcata. Ceiling was reported as 600 ft, 2 mi visibility. Also, a PIREP at eureka was bases at 600 visibility 4-5 mi. During the special VFR I encountered lower wisps of cloud so thin one could see through them. I decided to continue. I momentarily looked down to pick up my sectional. When I looked up again I was entering a scud layer that was thicker than the rest. Before I could react I was IMC. I was beginning to climb, mixtures and propellers moved forward, and just as quickly popped back out of the scud layer. I was still at about 500-600 ft. I now had 5 mi visibility, I could see across arcata bay to eureka murray airport. I elected to continue and land. I feel I needed to watch further ahead and have charts more readily available. It may also help if acv WX could be used for the approach at eureka murray. It was that moment of inattn out the window that caused my problem, in such marginal conditions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMT FREIGHTER ON SPECIAL VFR FLT PLAN ENCOUNTERED IMC AT 550 MSL.

Narrative: I NEEDED A SPECIAL VFR TO EUREKA. FAR 135 DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO DO AN APCH THERE SINCE NO WX IS RPTED AT EUREKA MURRAY ONLY ARCATA. CEILING WAS RPTED AS 600 FT, 2 MI VISIBILITY. ALSO, A PIREP AT EUREKA WAS BASES AT 600 VISIBILITY 4-5 MI. DURING THE SPECIAL VFR I ENCOUNTERED LOWER WISPS OF CLOUD SO THIN ONE COULD SEE THROUGH THEM. I DECIDED TO CONTINUE. I MOMENTARILY LOOKED DOWN TO PICK UP MY SECTIONAL. WHEN I LOOKED UP AGAIN I WAS ENTERING A SCUD LAYER THAT WAS THICKER THAN THE REST. BEFORE I COULD REACT I WAS IMC. I WAS BEGINNING TO CLB, MIXTURES AND PROPS MOVED FORWARD, AND JUST AS QUICKLY POPPED BACK OUT OF THE SCUD LAYER. I WAS STILL AT ABOUT 500-600 FT. I NOW HAD 5 MI VISIBILITY, I COULD SEE ACROSS ARCATA BAY TO EUREKA MURRAY ARPT. I ELECTED TO CONTINUE AND LAND. I FEEL I NEEDED TO WATCH FURTHER AHEAD AND HAVE CHARTS MORE READILY AVAILABLE. IT MAY ALSO HELP IF ACV WX COULD BE USED FOR THE APCH AT EUREKA MURRAY. IT WAS THAT MOMENT OF INATTN OUT THE WINDOW THAT CAUSED MY PROBLEM, IN SUCH MARGINAL CONDITIONS.

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.