Small aircraft pilot departs VFR with less than VFR visibility.

Attributes
ACN	194495
Time
Date	199111
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : vis
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 292 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : fat
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : initial
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 1550 flight time type : 5
ASRS Report	194495
Person 2
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Prior to departing, ground visibility appeared to be better than 3 mi. Did not check the field AWOS, nor flight service. Flight crew was to be from visalia to fresno chandler. Announced departure intentions on unicom and departed runway 30. Shortly after departure an aircraft on the frequency asked if I was talking to fresno. At this point checked AWOS and found field was IFR. Contributing factors. 1) complacency due to familiarity with area and short duration of flight. 2) visibility appeared better than 3 mi (for a 2 hour period prior to incident visibility was variable between 1 1/2-3 mi). 3) rotating beacon was on due to darkness. Tetrahedron light was not blinking.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT DEPARTS VFR WITH LESS THAN VFR VISIBILITY.

Narrative: PRIOR TO DEPARTING, GND VISIBILITY APPEARED TO BE BETTER THAN 3 MI. DID NOT CHK THE FIELD AWOS, NOR FLT SVC. FLC WAS TO BE FROM VISALIA TO FRESNO CHANDLER. ANNOUNCED DEP INTENTIONS ON UNICOM AND DEPARTED RWY 30. SHORTLY AFTER DEP AN ACFT ON THE FREQ ASKED IF I WAS TALKING TO FRESNO. AT THIS POINT CHKED AWOS AND FOUND FIELD WAS IFR. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. 1) COMPLACENCY DUE TO FAMILIARITY WITH AREA AND SHORT DURATION OF FLT. 2) VISIBILITY APPEARED BETTER THAN 3 MI (FOR A 2 HR PERIOD PRIOR TO INCIDENT VISIBILITY WAS VARIABLE BTWN 1 1/2-3 MI). 3) ROTATING BEACON WAS ON DUE TO DARKNESS. TETRAHEDRON LIGHT WAS NOT BLINKING.

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.