Narrative:

Flight was planned between manchester and stewart field, newburgh, ny. Full WX briefing was obtained on fri evening and again sat am from portland, me, FSS. WX described as VFR with conditions improving throughout sat. Departed mht approximately XA00Z sat in VFR, visibility about 14 mi, with ragged bases to the west. Conditions were definitely marginal VMC. I reported a VFR climb from 2500 to 4500 ft MSL to mht departure. However, it became obvious that an additional climb to 6500 would soon be required to remain VFR, as there were building tops about 10 mi west of my position. I informed mht departure of my intent, but was advised not to climb from 4500 to 6500 as there was IFR traffic 500 above, opposite (at 5000) direction. Consequently, I was forced to fly into a series of clouds at 4500 ft to maintain separation. I flew in IMC for about 1 min before breaking into VMC and climbing to 6500 ft. The remainder of the flight was conducted without incident. WX considerably poorer than forecast was the main factor for this incident, coupled with a very late warning from departure control concerning the traffic. I had requested and received a stage III clearance, was in radar contact, and in constant communication with departure. Corrective action in this case involved a decision to proceed into IMC for a short period to definitely avoid reported traffic I could not visually detect. Concerning human factors, I was well rested prior to the flight and in good health. I regularly fly this particular aircraft and am instrument current. As a flight instructor, I stress the importance of full WX briefings, however, on this day, the WX was far worse than predicted. The particular flight should have been conducted under IFR. I consequently requested and received an IFR route from ATC while airborne even though en route conditions were VFR.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IMC IN VFR FLT.

Narrative: FLT WAS PLANNED BTWN MANCHESTER AND STEWART FIELD, NEWBURGH, NY. FULL WX BRIEFING WAS OBTAINED ON FRI EVENING AND AGAIN SAT AM FROM PORTLAND, ME, FSS. WX DESCRIBED AS VFR WITH CONDITIONS IMPROVING THROUGHOUT SAT. DEPARTED MHT APPROX XA00Z SAT IN VFR, VISIBILITY ABOUT 14 MI, WITH RAGGED BASES TO THE W. CONDITIONS WERE DEFINITELY MARGINAL VMC. I RPTED A VFR CLB FROM 2500 TO 4500 FT MSL TO MHT DEP. HOWEVER, IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT AN ADDITIONAL CLB TO 6500 WOULD SOON BE REQUIRED TO REMAIN VFR, AS THERE WERE BUILDING TOPS ABOUT 10 MI W OF MY POS. I INFORMED MHT DEP OF MY INTENT, BUT WAS ADVISED NOT TO CLB FROM 4500 TO 6500 AS THERE WAS IFR TFC 500 ABOVE, OPPOSITE (AT 5000) DIRECTION. CONSEQUENTLY, I WAS FORCED TO FLY INTO A SERIES OF CLOUDS AT 4500 FT TO MAINTAIN SEPARATION. I FLEW IN IMC FOR ABOUT 1 MIN BEFORE BREAKING INTO VMC AND CLBING TO 6500 FT. THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS CONDUCTED WITHOUT INCIDENT. WX CONSIDERABLY POORER THAN FORECAST WAS THE MAIN FACTOR FOR THIS INCIDENT, COUPLED WITH A VERY LATE WARNING FROM DEP CTL CONCERNING THE TFC. I HAD REQUESTED AND RECEIVED A STAGE III CLRNC, WAS IN RADAR CONTACT, AND IN CONSTANT COM WITH DEP. CORRECTIVE ACTION IN THIS CASE INVOLVED A DECISION TO PROCEED INTO IMC FOR A SHORT PERIOD TO DEFINITELY AVOID RPTED TFC I COULD NOT VISUALLY DETECT. CONCERNING HUMAN FACTORS, I WAS WELL RESTED PRIOR TO THE FLT AND IN GOOD HEALTH. I REGULARLY FLY THIS PARTICULAR ACFT AND AM INST CURRENT. AS A FLT INSTRUCTOR, I STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF FULL WX BRIEFINGS, HOWEVER, ON THIS DAY, THE WX WAS FAR WORSE THAN PREDICTED. THE PARTICULAR FLT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED UNDER IFR. I CONSEQUENTLY REQUESTED AND RECEIVED AN IFR RTE FROM ATC WHILE AIRBORNE EVEN THOUGH ENRTE CONDITIONS WERE VFR.

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.