Pilot had condensation on windshield unable to see. Turns back, snow and fog also obscure vision.

Attributes
ACN	232776
Time
Date	199301
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : s21
State Reference	OR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4155 msl bound upper : 4750
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : sat
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 420 flight time type : 320
ASRS Report	232776
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : weather
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Depart runway 18, lift off srt out 1/2 mi to 1500 ft temperature minus 5 degrees C fog and haze and inside moisture obscure vision. Vision impaired, made 180 degree turn-around attempting to retrace takeoff to land on runway. Unable to see runway due to snow shower and fog on windshield. Went to instruments. Altitude 4750. Sun river a/P altitude 4155 ft. Pulled up to best rate of climb to 320 degrees, full power. Evasive action. Cabin moisture cleared as cabin heat and defrost system were in positive action. Vision 80 percent. Vision was completely obscured for only 3 mins. From XA36 to XA38. This action seen from the ground could easily be construed as a 'low pass' over the airport ramp area, which was not intentional but was actually a flight emergency. To my knowledge there was no danger to others, no injury to persons or property.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT HAD CONDENSATION ON WINDSHIELD UNABLE TO SEE. TURNS BACK, SNOW AND FOG ALSO OBSCURE VISION.

Narrative: DEPART RWY 18, LIFT OFF SRT OUT 1/2 MI TO 1500 FT TEMP MINUS 5 DEGS C FOG AND HAZE AND INSIDE MOISTURE OBSCURE VISION. VISION IMPAIRED, MADE 180 DEG TURN-AROUND ATTEMPTING TO RETRACE TKOF TO LAND ON RWY. UNABLE TO SEE RWY DUE TO SNOW SHOWER AND FOG ON WINDSHIELD. WENT TO INSTS. ALT 4750. SUN RIVER A/P ALT 4155 FT. PULLED UP TO BEST RATE OF CLB TO 320 DEGS, FULL PWR. EVASIVE ACTION. CABIN MOISTURE CLRED AS CABIN HEAT AND DEFROST SYS WERE IN POSITIVE ACTION. VISION 80 PERCENT. VISION WAS COMPLETELY OBSCURED FOR ONLY 3 MINS. FROM XA36 TO XA38. THIS ACTION SEEN FROM THE GND COULD EASILY BE CONSTRUED AS A 'LOW PASS' OVER THE ARPT RAMP AREA, WHICH WAS NOT INTENTIONAL BUT WAS ACTUALLY A FLT EMER. TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE WAS NO DANGER TO OTHERS, NO INJURY TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY.

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.