A non-instrument rated pilot successfully flew a let down through the WX.

Attributes
ACN	224739
Time
Date	199210
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pdx airport : hio
State Reference	OR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2900 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pdx
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 219 flight time type : 6
ASRS Report	224739
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a cross country flight, the last leg between the dalles VOR and hio , I was monitoring pdx approach and hio ATIS. The hio ATIS reported clear and 30 mi visibility. After contacting pdx approach (133.0), I was advised that hio was 3200 overcast and 15 mi visibility. I elected to ask for an IFR clearance to descend below the clouds. I was advised to fly radar vectors to 'runway 12 ILS at hio.' I followed all ATC instructions and broke out of IMC at 2900 ft MSL with hio runway 12 in sight. The flight remained VFR after that.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A NON-INST RATED PLT SUCCESSFULLY FLEW A LET DOWN THROUGH THE WX.

Narrative: ON A XCOUNTRY FLT, THE LAST LEG BTWN THE DALLES VOR AND HIO , I WAS MONITORING PDX APCH AND HIO ATIS. THE HIO ATIS RPTED CLR AND 30 MI VISIBILITY. AFTER CONTACTING PDX APCH (133.0), I WAS ADVISED THAT HIO WAS 3200 OVCST AND 15 MI VISIBILITY. I ELECTED TO ASK FOR AN IFR CLRNC TO DSND BELOW THE CLOUDS. I WAS ADVISED TO FLY RADAR VECTORS TO 'RWY 12 ILS AT HIO.' I FOLLOWED ALL ATC INSTRUCTIONS AND BROKE OUT OF IMC AT 2900 FT MSL WITH HIO RWY 12 IN SIGHT. THE FLT REMAINED VFR AFTER THAT.

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.