Small aircraft pilot encounters IFR conditions. Low flight to stay VFR over populated area.

Attributes
ACN	196869
Time
Date	199112
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : rbv airport : mmu
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	agl bound lower : 600 agl bound upper : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90 tower : mmu
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 1050 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	196869
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far other anomaly other
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:

I flew into MVFR/IFR conditions and continued flight to destination airport in contact with ATC and received permission to enter TCA and obtained SVFR to enter air traffic area of mmu which was IFR. I may have been less than 1000 ft above some inhabited/populated areas. I landed without mishap, safely. Intend to continue my efforts to complete my training to obtain the IFR rating. Completed annual delayed for delivery of parts and repairs and would be unable to obtain land transportation to retrieve plane and found transportation from home base (destination).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT ENCOUNTERS IFR CONDITIONS. LOW FLT TO STAY VFR OVER POPULATED AREA.

Narrative: I FLEW INTO MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS AND CONTINUED FLT TO DEST ARPT IN CONTACT WITH ATC AND RECEIVED PERMISSION TO ENTER TCA AND OBTAINED SVFR TO ENTER ATA OF MMU WHICH WAS IFR. I MAY HAVE BEEN LESS THAN 1000 FT ABOVE SOME INHABITED/POPULATED AREAS. I LANDED WITHOUT MISHAP, SAFELY. INTEND TO CONTINUE MY EFFORTS TO COMPLETE MY TRAINING TO OBTAIN THE IFR RATING. COMPLETED ANNUAL DELAYED FOR DELIVERY OF PARTS AND REPAIRS AND WOULD BE UNABLE TO OBTAIN LAND TRANSPORTATION TO RETRIEVE PLANE AND FOUND TRANSPORTATION FROM HOME BASE (DEST).

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.