A private small aircraft got caught VFR in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	234819
Time
Date	199302
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : vtn
State Reference	NE
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 12500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other ground : preflight
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 1065 flight time type : 450
ASRS Report	234819
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight from minnesota to new mexico was being made VFR because instrument equipped plane and instrument rated pilot were not current. Flight was discontinued at hon on feb/thu/93 when forecast VFR conditions failed to materialize as forecast. VFR conditions were forecast for feb/fri. WX at hon did not clear as forecast and departure was delayed until AM30 local when fog lifted. Flight plan (VFR) was filed hon- isd-vtn-tdd-lbf based on VFR observations along that route and improving forecast. Gradually lowered ceilings were encountered along route, was unable to raise FSS, flight watch or vtn unicom for latest vtn or other observations. 180 degree turn revealed deteriorating conditions on route just traveled. At this point, chose to go on instruments, climbed to 12500 ft, contacted ZDV and filed IFR for lbf. Flight was continued without further problem. VFR conditions encountered about 50 NM north of lbf and cancelled IFR about 40 mi north of lbf. Observations: need to be more diligent in keeping aircraft and pilot current. Mistake to rely so heavily on observations more than 1 hour old when WX had been so slow in living up to improving forecast. Would be nice to have better communications with FSS in remote locations (satellite relay?).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PVT SMA GOT CAUGHT VFR IN IMC.

Narrative: FLT FROM MINNESOTA TO NEW MEXICO WAS BEING MADE VFR BECAUSE INST EQUIPPED PLANE AND INST RATED PLT WERE NOT CURRENT. FLT WAS DISCONTINUED AT HON ON FEB/THU/93 WHEN FORECAST VFR CONDITIONS FAILED TO MATERIALIZE AS FORECAST. VFR CONDITIONS WERE FORECAST FOR FEB/FRI. WX AT HON DID NOT CLR AS FORECAST AND DEP WAS DELAYED UNTIL AM30 LCL WHEN FOG LIFTED. FLT PLAN (VFR) WAS FILED HON- ISD-VTN-TDD-LBF BASED ON VFR OBSERVATIONS ALONG THAT RTE AND IMPROVING FORECAST. GRADUALLY LOWERED CEILINGS WERE ENCOUNTERED ALONG RTE, WAS UNABLE TO RAISE FSS, FLT WATCH OR VTN UNICOM FOR LATEST VTN OR OTHER OBSERVATIONS. 180 DEG TURN REVEALED DETERIORATING CONDITIONS ON RTE JUST TRAVELED. AT THIS POINT, CHOSE TO GO ON INSTS, CLBED TO 12500 FT, CONTACTED ZDV AND FILED IFR FOR LBF. FLT WAS CONTINUED WITHOUT FURTHER PROB. VFR CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED ABOUT 50 NM N OF LBF AND CANCELLED IFR ABOUT 40 MI N OF LBF. OBSERVATIONS: NEED TO BE MORE DILIGENT IN KEEPING ACFT AND PLT CURRENT. MISTAKE TO RELY SO HEAVILY ON OBSERVATIONS MORE THAN 1 HR OLD WHEN WX HAD BEEN SO SLOW IN LIVING UP TO IMPROVING FORECAST. WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE BETTER COMS WITH FSS IN REMOTE LOCATIONS (SATELLITE RELAY?).

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.