VFR flight into IMC in controled airspace.

Attributes
ACN	226003
Time
Date	199211
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lgc
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : csg
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 510 flight time type : 2
ASRS Report	226003
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a VFR flight in a new aircraft to lgc, enter IMC, columbus approach ask if I had current AWOS-3 for lgc and at the time 15 NM out, AWOS was reporting no clouds below 12000 -- winds 230/4 visibility 12 mi. As I got closer to the airport I entered a cloud bank at 3500, ask to descend to maintain VFR, at 2500 MSL was only able to maintain slight VFR. Controller gave me an IFR clearance and vectors to lgc ILS 31 approach. The attitude indicator died, working on keeping aircraft level, I entered moderate turbulence. Worked more on aircraft control than altitude control. I intercepted the localizer, and went VFR and cancelled IFR. At the time of breaking out of IMC on the lgc 31 approach AWOS-3 reported 900 scattered 1700 scattered, no overcast and winds at 280 at 28 KTS. This report is of VFR flight into IMC, picking up an IFR clearance, but possibly not maintaining altitude because of an attitude indicator malfunction and turbulence, and low time in type. Factor I think may have caused this is, one new aircraft, homeitis, and AWOS-3 range not that great.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR FLT INTO IMC IN CTLED AIRSPACE.

Narrative: ON A VFR FLT IN A NEW ACFT TO LGC, ENTER IMC, COLUMBUS APCH ASK IF I HAD CURRENT AWOS-3 FOR LGC AND AT THE TIME 15 NM OUT, AWOS WAS RPTING NO CLOUDS BELOW 12000 -- WINDS 230/4 VISIBILITY 12 MI. AS I GOT CLOSER TO THE ARPT I ENTERED A CLOUD BANK AT 3500, ASK TO DSND TO MAINTAIN VFR, AT 2500 MSL WAS ONLY ABLE TO MAINTAIN SLIGHT VFR. CTLR GAVE ME AN IFR CLRNC AND VECTORS TO LGC ILS 31 APCH. THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR DIED, WORKING ON KEEPING ACFT LEVEL, I ENTERED MODERATE TURB. WORKED MORE ON ACFT CTL THAN ALT CTL. I INTERCEPTED THE LOC, AND WENT VFR AND CANCELLED IFR. AT THE TIME OF BREAKING OUT OF IMC ON THE LGC 31 APCH AWOS-3 RPTED 900 SCATTERED 1700 SCATTERED, NO OVCST AND WINDS AT 280 AT 28 KTS. THIS RPT IS OF VFR FLT INTO IMC, PICKING UP AN IFR CLRNC, BUT POSSIBLY NOT MAINTAINING ALT BECAUSE OF AN ATTITUDE INDICATOR MALFUNCTION AND TURB, AND LOW TIME IN TYPE. FACTOR I THINK MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS IS, ONE NEW ACFT, HOMEITIS, AND AWOS-3 RANGE NOT THAT GREAT.

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.