Spi experiences IMC in VFR flight.

Attributes
ACN	205869
Time
Date	199203
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : osi airport : sql
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa tracon : oak
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 5 flight time total : 26 flight time type : 26
ASRS Report	205869
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was climbing out to do a x-country to salinas from san carlos. I was in the haze and there were cumulus clouds in the haze. As I approached the woodside VOR at 3300 ft, I noticed the city suddenly fade away and at that time I realized I was in the cloud. I maintained my heading figuring I would come out the other side. Since I was not comfortable with IFR flight, I maintained wings level flight. I was aware that the terrain would not be a factor at my altitude and also I didn't want to bust the TCA which ran at 4000 ft MSL above me. I called oakland radio and informed them I was a student pilot in the clouds on a x-country to salinas and needed assistance. He had me squawk 7700 and had me contact ZOA. I broke out of the clouds and noticed another cloud ahead so I made a 180 degree turn to avoid going into another cloud. ZOA advised there was no traffic in the area and had me change my squawk. Then I turned toward the woodside VOR and proceeded direct to it. As I crossed over the VOR I ran into another cloud, but I soon broke out and at that time I could see san carlos airport and, also see the outside of the air traffic area. Remainder of the flight was normal procedure.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SPI EXPERIENCES IMC IN VFR FLT.

Narrative: I WAS CLBING OUT TO DO A X-COUNTRY TO SALINAS FROM SAN CARLOS. I WAS IN THE HAZE AND THERE WERE CUMULUS CLOUDS IN THE HAZE. AS I APCHED THE WOODSIDE VOR AT 3300 FT, I NOTICED THE CITY SUDDENLY FADE AWAY AND AT THAT TIME I REALIZED I WAS IN THE CLOUD. I MAINTAINED MY HDG FIGURING I WOULD COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE. SINCE I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IFR FLT, I MAINTAINED WINGS LEVEL FLT. I WAS AWARE THAT THE TERRAIN WOULD NOT BE A FACTOR AT MY ALT AND ALSO I DIDN'T WANT TO BUST THE TCA WHICH RAN AT 4000 FT MSL ABOVE ME. I CALLED OAKLAND RADIO AND INFORMED THEM I WAS A STUDENT PLT IN THE CLOUDS ON A X-COUNTRY TO SALINAS AND NEEDED ASSISTANCE. HE HAD ME SQUAWK 7700 AND HAD ME CONTACT ZOA. I BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS AND NOTICED ANOTHER CLOUD AHEAD SO I MADE A 180 DEG TURN TO AVOID GOING INTO ANOTHER CLOUD. ZOA ADVISED THERE WAS NO TFC IN THE AREA AND HAD ME CHANGE MY SQUAWK. THEN I TURNED TOWARD THE WOODSIDE VOR AND PROCEEDED DIRECT TO IT. AS I CROSSED OVER THE VOR I RAN INTO ANOTHER CLOUD, BUT I SOON BROKE OUT AND AT THAT TIME I COULD SEE SAN CARLOS ARPT AND, ALSO SEE THE OUTSIDE OF THE ATA. REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS NORMAL PROC.

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.