Narrative:

I filed an IFR flight plan with grb FSS for a 63.7 NM flight from lnr to fep. The ceiling at lnr was about 1200 AGL, field elevation 717 MSL, visibility VFR plus. I departed VFR and called ZAU to pick up the clearance. The controller said he couldn't pick me up on radar at my 2000 or so ft MSL altitude. However, he assigned me a transponder squawk. Thinking he would come back with a clearance when he knew the airspace was clear, I proceeded VFR en route to fep. I believe I called back once and the controller came back saying he still did not have me on radar. I continued en route in lowering VMC conditions. At some point, I began monitoring rockford approach control, who I knew would take the handoff from ZAU. I still expected to hear from somebody, since I filed IFR, contacted ATC, and had been squawking the transponder code given to me by the ZAU controller on initial call-up. About 2/3 of the way to fep, the ceiling and visibility went down considerably and I could no longer maintenance VFR. I called rfd approach and asked if he had a clearance, at the same time, I initiated a climb into IMC. The controller said he had nothing on me and contacted ZAU. The rfd controller came back shortly with my clearance, and I proceeded to my destination without further incident under IFR. I should have gotten a void time clrncs from FSS. I should have remained in the vicinity of lnr until the problem was resolved. The first controller should not have assigned me a transponder code and then ignored me. I assumed I was going to get a clearance when separation was assured.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA C-150 PLT EXPERIENCES IMC IN VFR FLT.

Narrative: I FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN WITH GRB FSS FOR A 63.7 NM FLT FROM LNR TO FEP. THE CEILING AT LNR WAS ABOUT 1200 AGL, FIELD ELEVATION 717 MSL, VISIBILITY VFR PLUS. I DEPARTED VFR AND CALLED ZAU TO PICK UP THE CLRNC. THE CTLR SAID HE COULDN'T PICK ME UP ON RADAR AT MY 2000 OR SO FT MSL ALT. HOWEVER, HE ASSIGNED ME A XPONDER SQUAWK. THINKING HE WOULD COME BACK WITH A CLRNC WHEN HE KNEW THE AIRSPACE WAS CLR, I PROCEEDED VFR ENRTE TO FEP. I BELIEVE I CALLED BACK ONCE AND THE CTLR CAME BACK SAYING HE STILL DID NOT HAVE ME ON RADAR. I CONTINUED ENRTE IN LOWERING VMC CONDITIONS. AT SOME POINT, I BEGAN MONITORING ROCKFORD APCH CTL, WHO I KNEW WOULD TAKE THE HDOF FROM ZAU. I STILL EXPECTED TO HEAR FROM SOMEBODY, SINCE I FILED IFR, CONTACTED ATC, AND HAD BEEN SQUAWKING THE XPONDER CODE GIVEN TO ME BY THE ZAU CTLR ON INITIAL CALL-UP. ABOUT 2/3 OF THE WAY TO FEP, THE CEILING AND VISIBILITY WENT DOWN CONSIDERABLY AND I COULD NO LONGER MAINT VFR. I CALLED RFD APCH AND ASKED IF HE HAD A CLRNC, AT THE SAME TIME, I INITIATED A CLB INTO IMC. THE CTLR SAID HE HAD NOTHING ON ME AND CONTACTED ZAU. THE RFD CTLR CAME BACK SHORTLY WITH MY CLRNC, AND I PROCEEDED TO MY DEST WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT UNDER IFR. I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A VOID TIME CLRNCS FROM FSS. I SHOULD HAVE REMAINED IN THE VICINITY OF LNR UNTIL THE PROB WAS RESOLVED. THE FIRST CTLR SHOULD NOT HAVE ASSIGNED ME A XPONDER CODE AND THEN IGNORED ME. I ASSUMED I WAS GOING TO GET A CLRNC WHEN SEPARATION WAS ASSURED.

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.