Accused by unknown observers of flying VFR in IMC at an uncontrolled airport.

Attributes
ACN	258857
Time
Date	199311
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fdk
State Reference	MD
Altitude	agl bound lower : 700 agl bound upper : 700
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : phx
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time total : 1600 flight time type : 4
ASRS Report	258857
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other other

Narrative:

I gave a private pilot a biennial flight review on this flight. I elected to stay in the pattern due to the marginal conditions. Before we left the school, we listened to the AWOS of fdk and the AWOS indicated VFR conditions: more than 3 mi visibility and more than 1000 ft ceiling. With that knowledge, we agreed to do an hour of pattern work. We taxied out after the preflight walkaround and listened one more time to the AWOS. This time it indicated that there was 2 1/2 mi visibility and more than 1000 ft ceiling (field elevation = 305 ft). We decided to fly a low pattern at 1000 ft MSL which is 700 ft AGL and therefore fly under the flight rules that apply in class G airspace: 1 mi visibility and clear of clouds (daytime). We took off and had no trouble to perform a safe flight under VFR conditions. It never deteriorated and, later on, the WX actually improved. We did our position reports on each leg and monitored the unicom frequency for any other traffic. 2 people on the ground (there was nobody in the air) decided to report us to the FAA, stating that we were flying in IFR conditions. Not true!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACCUSED BY UNKNOWN OBSERVERS OF FLYING VFR IN IMC AT AN UNCTLED ARPT.

Narrative: I GAVE A PVT PLT A BIENNIAL FLT REVIEW ON THIS FLT. I ELECTED TO STAY IN THE PATTERN DUE TO THE MARGINAL CONDITIONS. BEFORE WE LEFT THE SCHOOL, WE LISTENED TO THE AWOS OF FDK AND THE AWOS INDICATED VFR CONDITIONS: MORE THAN 3 MI VISIBILITY AND MORE THAN 1000 FT CEILING. WITH THAT KNOWLEDGE, WE AGREED TO DO AN HR OF PATTERN WORK. WE TAXIED OUT AFTER THE PREFLT WALKAROUND AND LISTENED ONE MORE TIME TO THE AWOS. THIS TIME IT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS 2 1/2 MI VISIBILITY AND MORE THAN 1000 FT CEILING (FIELD ELEVATION = 305 FT). WE DECIDED TO FLY A LOW PATTERN AT 1000 FT MSL WHICH IS 700 FT AGL AND THEREFORE FLY UNDER THE FLT RULES THAT APPLY IN CLASS G AIRSPACE: 1 MI VISIBILITY AND CLR OF CLOUDS (DAYTIME). WE TOOK OFF AND HAD NO TROUBLE TO PERFORM A SAFE FLT UNDER VFR CONDITIONS. IT NEVER DETERIORATED AND, LATER ON, THE WX ACTUALLY IMPROVED. WE DID OUR POS RPTS ON EACH LEG AND MONITORED THE UNICOM FREQ FOR ANY OTHER TFC. 2 PEOPLE ON THE GND (THERE WAS NOBODY IN THE AIR) DECIDED TO RPT US TO THE FAA, STATING THAT WE WERE FLYING IN IFR CONDITIONS. NOT TRUE!

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.