Inexperienced small aircraft pilot encounters IMC in VFR flight.

Attributes
ACN	203290
Time
Date	199203
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dvl airport : bis
State Reference	ND
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : v169
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 39 flight time total : 338 flight time type : 338
ASRS Report	203290
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

VFR from 03Y to bis. Approximately 20 mi southeast of dvl performed a 180 degree turn to escape IMC. Intercepted a highway to follow to dvl. Visibility 1-2 mi. Over dvl 3 mi visibility and 1500 ft cig. Turned toward bismarck on V169. Encountered sudden IMC visibility approximately 10 mi out. Did a 180 degree turn toward dvl. Maintained 1000 ft AGL, but still in clouds, snow, and fog. Went 3 mins west to get off V169. Turned toward bismarck. Was in IMC for approximately 15 mins. Visibility became 3-5 mi, and continued to improve enroute bis. FSS at gfk was forecasting VFR for the area. Advised FSS of the MVFR in dvl area when closing flight plan. Pilot had 'get-home-itis.' should have landed at lakota or at dvl and let snow squall clear. Conditions deteriorated 'in an instant.' pilot maintained attitude and directional control of aircraft at all times. Temperature was -10 degree C, no ice problem. Pilot experienced location disorientation but believed the instruments at all times. Pilot was able to immediately define location upon return to VMC. Pilot is not IFR rated and craft is not IFR equipped. Pilot exercised poor judgement in continuing flight, but maintained composure when unable to relocate dvl airport. Pilot did not advise FSS of the predicament for fear of losing license - another poor decision. Pilot exited controled airspace as soon as possible when he recognized the problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INEXPERIENCED SMA PLT ENCOUNTERS IMC IN VFR FLT.

Narrative: VFR FROM 03Y TO BIS. APPROX 20 MI SE OF DVL PERFORMED A 180 DEG TURN TO ESCAPE IMC. INTERCEPTED A HIGHWAY TO FOLLOW TO DVL. VISIBILITY 1-2 MI. OVER DVL 3 MI VISIBILITY AND 1500 FT CIG. TURNED TOWARD BISMARCK ON V169. ENCOUNTERED SUDDEN IMC VISIBILITY APPROX 10 MI OUT. DID A 180 DEG TURN TOWARD DVL. MAINTAINED 1000 FT AGL, BUT STILL IN CLOUDS, SNOW, AND FOG. WENT 3 MINS W TO GET OFF V169. TURNED TOWARD BISMARCK. WAS IN IMC FOR APPROX 15 MINS. VISIBILITY BECAME 3-5 MI, AND CONTINUED TO IMPROVE ENROUTE BIS. FSS AT GFK WAS FORECASTING VFR FOR THE AREA. ADVISED FSS OF THE MVFR IN DVL AREA WHEN CLOSING FLT PLAN. PLT HAD 'GET-HOME-ITIS.' SHOULD HAVE LANDED AT LAKOTA OR AT DVL AND LET SNOW SQUALL CLR. CONDITIONS DETERIORATED 'IN AN INSTANT.' PLT MAINTAINED ATTITUDE AND DIRECTIONAL CTL OF ACFT AT ALL TIMES. TEMPERATURE WAS -10 DEG C, NO ICE PROBLEM. PLT EXPERIENCED LOCATION DISORIENTATION BUT BELIEVED THE INSTS AT ALL TIMES. PLT WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY DEFINE LOCATION UPON RETURN TO VMC. PLT IS NOT IFR RATED AND CRAFT IS NOT IFR EQUIPPED. PLT EXERCISED POOR JUDGEMENT IN CONTINUING FLT, BUT MAINTAINED COMPOSURE WHEN UNABLE TO RELOCATE DVL ARPT. PLT DID NOT ADVISE FSS OF THE PREDICAMENT FOR FEAR OF LOSING LICENSE - ANOTHER POOR DECISION. PLT EXITED CTLED AIRSPACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WHEN HE RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM.

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.