A low time GA pilot en route ketchikan from port hardy encounters IMC while in VFR flight. Czvr, zan...

Attributes
ACN	211248
Time
Date	199205
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ypr
State Reference	BC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : czvr
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 325
ASRS Report	211248
Person 2
Affiliation	government other
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

A full briefing at port hardy FSS for a VFR flight direct to ketchikan indicated VFR should be safe. However, a low pressure front was expected to move in during the early evening -- about 5 hours after ETA. Strong 30 KT tailwinds were experienced out of port hardy at an altitude of 8500 ft. Precipitation began near bella bella and visibility was reduced to 5 mi. A descent to 6000 and then 2500 ft was commenced to remain VFR. Ketchikan was reporting VFR 35 mi visibility, 4000 ft ceilings. Near 2000 ft mountains, IMC was encountered at 2500 ft near porcher island near prince rupert. A 180 degree turn was deemed unsafe given visibility so a climb to 9500 ft was commenced, during which czvr issued a clearance to ketchikan at 10000 ft. When handed to zan, radar vector approach was requested and denied. Then the ILS approach procedures were relayed and copied. However, ann's DME was not working until 6.4 DME so a different approach was requested. A localizer approach was provided and during inbound course, the localizer was lost while the aircraft reached VMC. Controller began relaying map procedures but pilot requested to maintain VFR. Controller switched pilot to ketchikan FSS where a DF steer was used to guide the pilot to a VFR landing. Incidentally, the zan controller was very professional and did a very good job. Also, pitot tube froze up and was not functioning at about 25 NM south ann. Lack of airspeed indicator was major reason for pilot's request to stay VFR after losing localizer.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A LOW TIME GA PLT ENRTE KETCHIKAN FROM PORT HARDY ENCOUNTERS IMC WHILE IN VFR FLT. CZVR, ZAN CTLRS, AND KTN FSS SPECIALIST CLRLY SAVED THE RPTR'S LIFE WITH THEIR FLT ASSIST.

Narrative: A FULL BRIEFING AT PORT HARDY FSS FOR A VFR FLT DIRECT TO KETCHIKAN INDICATED VFR SHOULD BE SAFE. HOWEVER, A LOW PRESSURE FRONT WAS EXPECTED TO MOVE IN DURING THE EARLY EVENING -- ABOUT 5 HRS AFTER ETA. STRONG 30 KT TAILWINDS WERE EXPERIENCED OUT OF PORT HARDY AT AN ALT OF 8500 FT. PRECIPITATION BEGAN NEAR BELLA BELLA AND VISIBILITY WAS REDUCED TO 5 MI. A DSCNT TO 6000 AND THEN 2500 FT WAS COMMENCED TO REMAIN VFR. KETCHIKAN WAS RPTING VFR 35 MI VISIBILITY, 4000 FT CEILINGS. NEAR 2000 FT MOUNTAINS, IMC WAS ENCOUNTERED AT 2500 FT NEAR PORCHER ISLAND NEAR PRINCE RUPERT. A 180 DEG TURN WAS DEEMED UNSAFE GIVEN VISIBILITY SO A CLB TO 9500 FT WAS COMMENCED, DURING WHICH CZVR ISSUED A CLRNC TO KETCHIKAN AT 10000 FT. WHEN HANDED TO ZAN, RADAR VECTOR APCH WAS REQUESTED AND DENIED. THEN THE ILS APCH PROCS WERE RELAYED AND COPIED. HOWEVER, ANN'S DME WAS NOT WORKING UNTIL 6.4 DME SO A DIFFERENT APCH WAS REQUESTED. A LOC APCH WAS PROVIDED AND DURING INBOUND COURSE, THE LOC WAS LOST WHILE THE ACFT REACHED VMC. CTLR BEGAN RELAYING MAP PROCS BUT PLT REQUESTED TO MAINTAIN VFR. CTLR SWITCHED PLT TO KETCHIKAN FSS WHERE A DF STEER WAS USED TO GUIDE THE PLT TO A VFR LNDG. INCIDENTALLY, THE ZAN CTLR WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL AND DID A VERY GOOD JOB. ALSO, PITOT TUBE FROZE UP AND WAS NOT FUNCTIONING AT ABOUT 25 NM S ANN. LACK OF AIRSPD INDICATOR WAS MAJOR REASON FOR PLT'S REQUEST TO STAY VFR AFTER LOSING LOC.

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.

A low time GA pilot en route ketchikan from port hardy encounters IMC while in VFR flight. Czvr, zan controllers, and ktn FSS specialist clearly saved the reporter's life with their flight assist.