Small aircraft encounters deteriorating WX. Given headings by FSS toward destination airport.

Attributes
ACN	229271
Time
Date	199212
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gri
State Reference	NE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp tower : cle
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 188 flight time type : 42
ASRS Report	229271
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The problem arose while flying in marginal VFR conditions from central city, northeast, to grand island, and encountering unfavorable, unforecasted WX. The contributing factor would be flying in the conditions mentioned above at night. The situation was discovered while inbound to the grand island airport. The flight appeared to be going as planned but after a few mins of progressive flight, the visibility quickly turned into what I perceived to be IMC. I quickly attempted to turn back into the VFR conditions while also notifying columbus FSS of my current situation but I became spatially disoriented and had to focus my center of attention on the instruments to keep the airplane straight and level. After assuring that I had positive control of the aircraft, I resumed the heading that columbus FSS had given me to reach the grand island airport and started a shallow descent to gain better forward visibility. I was able to maintain a good forward visibility and stay clear of any obstructions at 2000 ft MSL. I made a visual identify of the grand island airport. After landing, I called the columbus FSS and reported that I was safe on the ground and that I appreciated the support. I was told that while I was en route that the WX was dramatically changing for the worse and I decided it was best to spend the night in grand island and not try to attempt to go any further.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ENCOUNTERS DETERIORATING WX. GIVEN HDGS BY FSS TOWARD DEST ARPT.

Narrative: THE PROB AROSE WHILE FLYING IN MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS FROM CENTRAL CITY, NE, TO GRAND ISLAND, AND ENCOUNTERING UNFAVORABLE, UNFORECASTED WX. THE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WOULD BE FLYING IN THE CONDITIONS MENTIONED ABOVE AT NIGHT. THE SIT WAS DISCOVERED WHILE INBOUND TO THE GRAND ISLAND ARPT. THE FLT APPEARED TO BE GOING AS PLANNED BUT AFTER A FEW MINS OF PROGRESSIVE FLT, THE VISIBILITY QUICKLY TURNED INTO WHAT I PERCEIVED TO BE IMC. I QUICKLY ATTEMPTED TO TURN BACK INTO THE VFR CONDITIONS WHILE ALSO NOTIFYING COLUMBUS FSS OF MY CURRENT SIT BUT I BECAME SPATIALLY DISORIENTED AND HAD TO FOCUS MY CTR OF ATTN ON THE INSTS TO KEEP THE AIRPLANE STRAIGHT AND LEVEL. AFTER ASSURING THAT I HAD POSITIVE CTL OF THE ACFT, I RESUMED THE HDG THAT COLUMBUS FSS HAD GIVEN ME TO REACH THE GRAND ISLAND ARPT AND STARTED A SHALLOW DSCNT TO GAIN BETTER FORWARD VISIBILITY. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN A GOOD FORWARD VISIBILITY AND STAY CLR OF ANY OBSTRUCTIONS AT 2000 FT MSL. I MADE A VISUAL IDENT OF THE GRAND ISLAND ARPT. AFTER LNDG, I CALLED THE COLUMBUS FSS AND RPTED THAT I WAS SAFE ON THE GND AND THAT I APPRECIATED THE SUPPORT. I WAS TOLD THAT WHILE I WAS ENRTE THAT THE WX WAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGING FOR THE WORSE AND I DECIDED IT WAS BEST TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN GRAND ISLAND AND NOT TRY TO ATTEMPT TO GO ANY FURTHER.

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.