Non IFR rated commercial pilot files IFR in a sales oriented ferry flight.

Attributes
ACN	201369
Time
Date	199202
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cle
State Reference	OH
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : cle tower : bgr tower : btr
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff cruise other landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 15
ASRS Report	201369
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On wed/feb/92, I accepted an IFR clearance for a flight from cleveland to bangor. This flight was conducted for the purpose of trying to make a sale on the aircraft. I was scheduled to have a professional pilot fly the aircraft, but when he didn't show for the trip, I elected to commence the trip my myself without taking into account the fact that I was not instrument rated. This error in judgement was made because of the tremendous amount of pressure on me because of personal and financial problems. I have the training necessary for my instrument rating and first passed the written for the rating in 1972. I have flown many hours with check pilots and instructors and felt comfortable with my ability to handle the flight since it was forecast to be VFR. The flight was made totally in VFR conditions although on an IFR flight plan.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NON IFR RATED COMMERCIAL PLT FILES IFR IN A SALES ORIENTED FERRY FLT.

Narrative: ON WED/FEB/92, I ACCEPTED AN IFR CLRNC FOR A FLT FROM CLEVELAND TO BANGOR. THIS FLT WAS CONDUCTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRYING TO MAKE A SALE ON THE ACFT. I WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE A PROFESSIONAL PLT FLY THE ACFT, BUT WHEN HE DIDN'T SHOW FOR THE TRIP, I ELECTED TO COMMENCE THE TRIP MY MYSELF WITHOUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT I WAS NOT INST RATED. THIS ERROR IN JUDGEMENT WAS MADE BECAUSE OF THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON ME BECAUSE OF PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE THE TRAINING NECESSARY FOR MY INST RATING AND FIRST PASSED THE WRITTEN FOR THE RATING IN 1972. I HAVE FLOWN MANY HRS WITH CHK PLTS AND INSTRUCTORS AND FELT COMFORTABLE WITH MY ABILITY TO HANDLE THE FLT SINCE IT WAS FORECAST TO BE VFR. THE FLT WAS MADE TOTALLY IN VFR CONDITIONS ALTHOUGH ON AN IFR FLT PLAN.

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.