VFR in IMC conditions as small aircraft pilot presses the en route WX.

Attributes
ACN	205763
Time
Date	199203
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ful
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ful
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 110 flight time total : 1200 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	205763
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
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:

Transited fullerton in VFR conditions eastbound, following 91 freeway, after leaving fullerton traffic area. Maintained radio contact with fullerton while proceeding toward canyon. Visibility looked ok so I proceeded into moderate rain. Visibility dropped to 2-2.5 mi for 1-2 mins. Could not climb due to fog and clouds at higher altitudes. Upon reaching midpoint in canyon, visibility improved to 4 mi, ceiling ragged. Rain stopped at midpoint just prior to reaching prado dam. Eastbound visibility improved to 5-15 mi. Lesson: when I started into the canyon visibility was not too bad. It got worse as I was transiting. Next time I'll go after the WX has cleared to full VFR not just marginal VFR.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR IN IMC CONDITIONS AS SMA PLT PRESSES THE ENRTE WX.

Narrative: TRANSITED FULLERTON IN VFR CONDITIONS EBOUND, FOLLOWING 91 FREEWAY, AFTER LEAVING FULLERTON TFC AREA. MAINTAINED RADIO CONTACT WITH FULLERTON WHILE PROCEEDING TOWARD CANYON. VISIBILITY LOOKED OK SO I PROCEEDED INTO MODERATE RAIN. VISIBILITY DROPPED TO 2-2.5 MI FOR 1-2 MINS. COULD NOT CLB DUE TO FOG AND CLOUDS AT HIGHER ALTS. UPON REACHING MIDPOINT IN CANYON, VISIBILITY IMPROVED TO 4 MI, CEILING RAGGED. RAIN STOPPED AT MIDPOINT JUST PRIOR TO REACHING PRADO DAM. EBOUND VISIBILITY IMPROVED TO 5-15 MI. LESSON: WHEN I STARTED INTO THE CANYON VISIBILITY WAS NOT TOO BAD. IT GOT WORSE AS I WAS TRANSITING. NEXT TIME I'LL GO AFTER THE WX HAS CLRED TO FULL VFR NOT JUST MARGINAL VFR.

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.