IMC in VFR flight in small transport's attempt to fly VMC through a mountain pass.

Attributes
ACN	232693
Time
Date	199301
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : jdl
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : jdl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Small Transport
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 4500
ASRS Report	232693
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : took evasive action other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed pelican seaport en route to juneau, ak. WX was VFR. Headed through a mountain pass at 3000 ft, clouds closed in around me and forced an IFR flight. The WX hit in the space of a min, and to avoid hitting mountain sides, I climbed on heading toward sisters island VOR. I broke out of clouds after 20 mi, 5 mi from sisters, and proceeded without incident. WX was the defining factor which caused emergency. The best way to avoid the situation in the future would be to be more conservative before entering the pass.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IMC IN VFR FLT IN SMT'S ATTEMPT TO FLY VMC THROUGH A MOUNTAIN PASS.

Narrative: DEPARTED PELICAN SEAPORT ENRTE TO JUNEAU, AK. WX WAS VFR. HEADED THROUGH A MOUNTAIN PASS AT 3000 FT, CLOUDS CLOSED IN AROUND ME AND FORCED AN IFR FLT. THE WX HIT IN THE SPACE OF A MIN, AND TO AVOID HITTING MOUNTAIN SIDES, I CLBED ON HDG TOWARD SISTERS ISLAND VOR. I BROKE OUT OF CLOUDS AFTER 20 MI, 5 MI FROM SISTERS, AND PROCEEDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. WX WAS THE DEFINING FACTOR WHICH CAUSED EMER. THE BEST WAY TO AVOID THE SIT IN THE FUTURE WOULD BE TO BE MORE CONSERVATIVE BEFORE ENTERING THE PASS.

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.