Small aircraft is trapped by WX, diverts to an alternate.

Attributes
ACN	198317
Time
Date	199112
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : iad airport : w99
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 1100
ASRS Report	198317
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After passing dulles international, requested and was approved for higher altitude to overfly clouds and remain VFR. Approximately 20 mins past dulles, noticed that clouds were increasing, and again requested 12500 to clear clouds. Proceeded to climb from 8500 through 11000 and immediately became IFR. Contacted center and explained situation, requesting lower and a 180 degree heading change to reestablish VFR conditions. Center then began a series of questions to determine if aircraft and/or pilot was IFR certified, and to our intentions. Requested several times a frequency change so that flight watch could be contacted for a WX update in the local area. Finally was given approval, but too late. Accessed nearest airport function on LORAN C, and landed at petersburg, wv, until WX cleared. Center should pay more attention to all aircraft in a given area, not just air carriers, and situations such as this could be more easily prevented. Return flight was finally completed on 12/91 with no further incidents.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA IS TRAPPED BY WX, DIVERTS TO AN ALTERNATE.

Narrative: AFTER PASSING DULLES INTL, REQUESTED AND WAS APPROVED FOR HIGHER ALT TO OVERFLY CLOUDS AND REMAIN VFR. APPROX 20 MINS PAST DULLES, NOTICED THAT CLOUDS WERE INCREASING, AND AGAIN REQUESTED 12500 TO CLR CLOUDS. PROCEEDED TO CLB FROM 8500 THROUGH 11000 AND IMMEDIATELY BECAME IFR. CONTACTED CENTER AND EXPLAINED SITUATION, REQUESTING LOWER AND A 180 DEG HDG CHANGE TO REESTABLISH VFR CONDITIONS. CENTER THEN BEGAN A SERIES OF QUESTIONS TO DETERMINE IF ACFT AND/OR PLT WAS IFR CERTIFIED, AND TO OUR INTENTIONS. REQUESTED SEVERAL TIMES A FREQ CHANGE SO THAT FLT WATCH COULD BE CONTACTED FOR A WX UPDATE IN THE LCL AREA. FINALLY WAS GIVEN APPROVAL, BUT TOO LATE. ACCESSED NEAREST ARPT FUNCTION ON LORAN C, AND LANDED AT PETERSBURG, WV, UNTIL WX CLRED. CENTER SHOULD PAY MORE ATTN TO ALL ACFT IN A GIVEN AREA, NOT JUST AIR CARRIERS, AND SITUATIONS SUCH AS THIS COULD BE MORE EASILY PREVENTED. RETURN FLT WAS FINALLY COMPLETED ON 12/91 WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENTS.

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.