Small aircraft unable to make radio contact to file IFR flight plan.

Attributes
ACN	257605
Time
Date	199311
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gnv
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl bound lower : 1000 agl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx artcc : zla
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 415 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	257605
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After contacting FSS, I was advised that conditions were 1500 ft with 7 mi visibility or better, no precipitation on radar. I took off from waycross, GA, VFR direct to st. Petersburg, fl. At approximately 40 mi north of gainesville, I encountered marginal VFR conditions, light rain and decided to continue IFR, tried to contact gainesville, fl, to file IFR, no contact. Tried to contact flight service, no contact. Tried to contact ZJX, also at first was no contact. Conditions were approximately 1 1/2 - 2 mi visibility and light rain. Attempted again to contact ZJX. Made contact. I was advised to stand by. I waited a min, contacted ZJX again. They advised stand by. Visibility lessening. Made the decision to go up. Contacted ZJX again. Was requested to stand by. I then contacted flight service. At this time I was approximately 30 mi from gainesville. I advised flight service that I wished to file an IFR flight plan. I advised them of the information and destination, they stated to contact ZJX in 2 mins. Approximately 20 mi from gainesville at this time. I contacted ZJX and was advised to stand by again. A short period passed and I contacted jacksonville and advised jacksonville of where I was. At this time, I was cleared by ZJX direct gainesville to 7000 ft direct gainesville and then continued the flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA UNABLE TO MAKE RADIO CONTACT TO FILE IFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: AFTER CONTACTING FSS, I WAS ADVISED THAT CONDITIONS WERE 1500 FT WITH 7 MI VISIBILITY OR BETTER, NO PRECIPITATION ON RADAR. I TOOK OFF FROM WAYCROSS, GA, VFR DIRECT TO ST. PETERSBURG, FL. AT APPROX 40 MI N OF GAINESVILLE, I ENCOUNTERED MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS, LIGHT RAIN AND DECIDED TO CONTINUE IFR, TRIED TO CONTACT GAINESVILLE, FL, TO FILE IFR, NO CONTACT. TRIED TO CONTACT FLT SVC, NO CONTACT. TRIED TO CONTACT ZJX, ALSO AT FIRST WAS NO CONTACT. CONDITIONS WERE APPROX 1 1/2 - 2 MI VISIBILITY AND LIGHT RAIN. ATTEMPTED AGAIN TO CONTACT ZJX. MADE CONTACT. I WAS ADVISED TO STAND BY. I WAITED A MIN, CONTACTED ZJX AGAIN. THEY ADVISED STAND BY. VISIBILITY LESSENING. MADE THE DECISION TO GO UP. CONTACTED ZJX AGAIN. WAS REQUESTED TO STAND BY. I THEN CONTACTED FLT SVC. AT THIS TIME I WAS APPROX 30 MI FROM GAINESVILLE. I ADVISED FLT SVC THAT I WISHED TO FILE AN IFR FLT PLAN. I ADVISED THEM OF THE INFO AND DEST, THEY STATED TO CONTACT ZJX IN 2 MINS. APPROX 20 MI FROM GAINESVILLE AT THIS TIME. I CONTACTED ZJX AND WAS ADVISED TO STAND BY AGAIN. A SHORT PERIOD PASSED AND I CONTACTED JACKSONVILLE AND ADVISED JACKSONVILLE OF WHERE I WAS. AT THIS TIME, I WAS CLRED BY ZJX DIRECT GAINESVILLE TO 7000 FT DIRECT GAINESVILLE AND THEN CONTINUED THE FLT.

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.