Narrative:

First mistake -- not taking immediate action to avoid the medium large transport traffic pattern when I realized that the ceiling was not 1200 ft, as stated on the current ATIS information. I was on my first dual as a CFI with my first real student. When ATIS called ceilings at 1200 ft, I figured we could fly the pattern at 700 ft once or twice for touch and goes before a final full stop landing. That was my second mistake. I should have planned to get on the ground as soon as possible, not plan for tough and goes. Conditions were worse than I estimated. Ceilings were between 400-500 ft in most of the pattern for 27R/left. I requested a frequency change, and called patrick (AFB) approach for a local IFR into mlb. I had all required equipment on board for IFR flight, only I did not check the VOR for the 30 day requirement. The flight ended without incident, or even the slightest glitch, my student had never experienced actual instrument conditions before either, she handled the aircraft well. I would not be concerned about her safety, now, should she accidentally enter those conditions again. In the future I will respond more quickly to deteriorating conditions. I originally cancelled the flight, but later changed my decision because other training flts were leaving. Next time I should follow in instincts. I also need to be sure my aircraft is safe for IFR when I decide to takeoff into marginal conditions. And finally, I need to be more aware of my instrument currency. In the last 6 months, I've logged 5.2 hours instrument, and 5 approachs, obviously a little short of what I need for either currency or proficiency.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INSTRUCTOR WITH STUDENT ENCOUNTERS CEILINGS LOWER THAN BROADCAST ON ATIS. FILES IFR.

Narrative: FIRST MISTAKE -- NOT TAKING IMMEDIATE ACTION TO AVOID THE MLG TFC PATTERN WHEN I REALIZED THAT THE CEILING WAS NOT 1200 FT, AS STATED ON THE CURRENT ATIS INFO. I WAS ON MY FIRST DUAL AS A CFI WITH MY FIRST REAL STUDENT. WHEN ATIS CALLED CEILINGS AT 1200 FT, I FIGURED WE COULD FLY THE PATTERN AT 700 FT ONCE OR TWICE FOR TOUCH AND GOES BEFORE A FINAL FULL STOP LNDG. THAT WAS MY SECOND MISTAKE. I SHOULD HAVE PLANNED TO GET ON THE GND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, NOT PLAN FOR TOUGH AND GOES. CONDITIONS WERE WORSE THAN I ESTIMATED. CEILINGS WERE BTWN 400-500 FT IN MOST OF THE PATTERN FOR 27R/L. I REQUESTED A FREQ CHANGE, AND CALLED PATRICK (AFB) APCH FOR A LCL IFR INTO MLB. I HAD ALL REQUIRED EQUIP ON BOARD FOR IFR FLT, ONLY I DID NOT CHK THE VOR FOR THE 30 DAY REQUIREMENT. THE FLT ENDED WITHOUT INCIDENT, OR EVEN THE SLIGHTEST GLITCH, MY STUDENT HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED ACTUAL INST CONDITIONS BEFORE EITHER, SHE HANDLED THE ACFT WELL. I WOULD NOT BE CONCERNED ABOUT HER SAFETY, NOW, SHOULD SHE ACCIDENTALLY ENTER THOSE CONDITIONS AGAIN. IN THE FUTURE I WILL RESPOND MORE QUICKLY TO DETERIORATING CONDITIONS. I ORIGINALLY CANCELLED THE FLT, BUT LATER CHANGED MY DECISION BECAUSE OTHER TRAINING FLTS WERE LEAVING. NEXT TIME I SHOULD FOLLOW IN INSTINCTS. I ALSO NEED TO BE SURE MY ACFT IS SAFE FOR IFR WHEN I DECIDE TO TKOF INTO MARGINAL CONDITIONS. AND FINALLY, I NEED TO BE MORE AWARE OF MY INST CURRENCY. IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, I'VE LOGGED 5.2 HRS INST, AND 5 APCHS, OBVIOUSLY A LITTLE SHORT OF WHAT I NEED FOR EITHER CURRENCY OR PROFICIENCY.

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.