Small aircraft encounters ceilings lower than briefed. Flight assist to ASR approach.

Attributes
ACN	229255
Time
Date	199212
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : flo
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : flo tower : huf
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 120 flight time type : 20
ASRS Report	229255
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
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : provided flight assist other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On flight from roanoke, va, to florence, sc, found flo 1600 overcast. I was VFR on top. Before departing roanoke at XX00 am, WX briefer told me florence was 1700-2500 broken getting better. High dominated the area. Departed roanoke at approximately XX30 am, called flight watch over greensboro, nc (100 mi north of florence), greensboro was 4500 scattered. Reported florence 7000 scattered. On arrival in florence, found myself unable to land and maintain VFR. ATC florence asked me if I was 'looking for a hole,' I reported I was. Approximately 20 mins later, I requested WX in myrtle beach 60 mi to the east. ATC reported same conditions but sumter, sc, looked like 2000 broken. I headed toward shaw AFB (sumter) but was told by ATC that rdu international in nc, looked better. I reported to ATC my fuel was 1 hour. ATC told me to turn around and told me to expect a surveillance approach into runway 36. I entered the clouds at 4000 ft and broke out at 1200 and made a normal landing. I either did not hear flight watch correctly or they gave me the wrong WX. I called flight watch approximately 10 mi south of ashboro, nc, when I noticed scattered becoming a solid overcast layer. I was over florence for 30-45 mins when I should have returned north (ashboro) to land. On landing, my fuel was better than 2 hours. I always prefer to be conservative.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ENCOUNTERS CEILINGS LOWER THAN BRIEFED. FLT ASSIST TO ASR APCH.

Narrative: ON FLT FROM ROANOKE, VA, TO FLORENCE, SC, FOUND FLO 1600 OVCST. I WAS VFR ON TOP. BEFORE DEPARTING ROANOKE AT XX00 AM, WX BRIEFER TOLD ME FLORENCE WAS 1700-2500 BROKEN GETTING BETTER. HIGH DOMINATED THE AREA. DEPARTED ROANOKE AT APPROX XX30 AM, CALLED FLT WATCH OVER GREENSBORO, NC (100 MI N OF FLORENCE), GREENSBORO WAS 4500 SCATTERED. RPTED FLORENCE 7000 SCATTERED. ON ARR IN FLORENCE, FOUND MYSELF UNABLE TO LAND AND MAINTAIN VFR. ATC FLORENCE ASKED ME IF I WAS 'LOOKING FOR A HOLE,' I RPTED I WAS. APPROX 20 MINS LATER, I REQUESTED WX IN MYRTLE BEACH 60 MI TO THE E. ATC RPTED SAME CONDITIONS BUT SUMTER, SC, LOOKED LIKE 2000 BROKEN. I HEADED TOWARD SHAW AFB (SUMTER) BUT WAS TOLD BY ATC THAT RDU INTL IN NC, LOOKED BETTER. I RPTED TO ATC MY FUEL WAS 1 HR. ATC TOLD ME TO TURN AROUND AND TOLD ME TO EXPECT A SURVEILLANCE APCH INTO RWY 36. I ENTERED THE CLOUDS AT 4000 FT AND BROKE OUT AT 1200 AND MADE A NORMAL LNDG. I EITHER DID NOT HEAR FLT WATCH CORRECTLY OR THEY GAVE ME THE WRONG WX. I CALLED FLT WATCH APPROX 10 MI S OF ASHBORO, NC, WHEN I NOTICED SCATTERED BECOMING A SOLID OVCST LAYER. I WAS OVER FLORENCE FOR 30-45 MINS WHEN I SHOULD HAVE RETURNED N (ASHBORO) TO LAND. ON LNDG, MY FUEL WAS BETTER THAN 2 HRS. I ALWAYS PREFER TO BE CONSERVATIVE.

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.