GA small aircraft VFR in IMC as night approachs.

Attributes
ACN	197955
Time
Date	199112
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cmh
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2300 msl bound upper : 2300
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid tracon : cmh
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 33 flight time total : 202 flight time type : 202
ASRS Report	197955
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While en route from N30 (cherry ridge, PA) to dayton, oh, I realized the ceiling was dropping to marginal VFR, and decided to land in columbus. It was dusk, fast approaching night, and though I could see lights in the distance, indicating adequate visibility, I could not see that I would be flying into clouds at my current altitude 2300 ft MSL. As night hit, I flew into clouds, while trying to contact columbus approach, ZOB helped me finally do that, and columbus ATC helped me land at port columbus. They were terrific. I was 10 mi east of appleton VOR when it occurred.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA VFR IN IMC AS NIGHT APCHS.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE FROM N30 (CHERRY RIDGE, PA) TO DAYTON, OH, I REALIZED THE CEILING WAS DROPPING TO MARGINAL VFR, AND DECIDED TO LAND IN COLUMBUS. IT WAS DUSK, FAST APCHING NIGHT, AND THOUGH I COULD SEE LIGHTS IN THE DISTANCE, INDICATING ADEQUATE VISIBILITY, I COULD NOT SEE THAT I WOULD BE FLYING INTO CLOUDS AT MY CURRENT ALT 2300 FT MSL. AS NIGHT HIT, I FLEW INTO CLOUDS, WHILE TRYING TO CONTACT COLUMBUS APCH, ZOB HELPED ME FINALLY DO THAT, AND COLUMBUS ATC HELPED ME LAND AT PORT COLUMBUS. THEY WERE TERRIFIC. I WAS 10 MI E OF APPLETON VOR WHEN IT OCCURRED.

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.