Captain of an air carrier mdt deliberately flew into clouds while en route. VFR.

Attributes
ACN	291643
Time
Date	199412
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mhh
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Dash 8 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : mhh
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 255 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	291643
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : investigated Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Air carrier X airlines norm is to depart various remote bahama's islands airports in VMC and pick up IFR en route. In this case we had a normal VMC departure got established en route to pbi, I called the captain's attention to the fact that if we proceeded on course we would enter a cloud. He said, 'your too technical for me' and plowed straight ahead. The captain is also one of many at this company that reads in the cockpit. I feel frustrated on trying to improve things at air carrier X. The word to the wise is don't go to poor standards, you will get a label. I went to the local flight standards district office about other problems they suggested the FAA's confidential hot line would be better to get action. The FAA 'investigated' but could do nothing because I insist on protecting my identity (job and personal safety). I am preparing a composite (anonymous) letter describing the capts' group behaviors in hopes that it will cause them to recognize themselves. I am also approaching the new group safety people.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF AN ACR MDT DELIBERATELY FLEW INTO CLOUDS WHILE ENRTE. VFR.

Narrative: ACR X AIRLINES NORM IS TO DEPART VARIOUS REMOTE BAHAMA'S ISLANDS ARPTS IN VMC AND PICK UP IFR ENRTE. IN THIS CASE WE HAD A NORMAL VMC DEP GOT ESTABLISHED ENRTE TO PBI, I CALLED THE CAPT'S ATTN TO THE FACT THAT IF WE PROCEEDED ON COURSE WE WOULD ENTER A CLOUD. HE SAID, 'YOUR TOO TECHNICAL FOR ME' AND PLOWED STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE CAPT IS ALSO ONE OF MANY AT THIS COMPANY THAT READS IN THE COCKPIT. I FEEL FRUSTRATED ON TRYING TO IMPROVE THINGS AT ACR X. THE WORD TO THE WISE IS DON'T GO TO POOR STANDARDS, YOU WILL GET A LABEL. I WENT TO THE LCL FLT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE ABOUT OTHER PROBS THEY SUGGESTED THE FAA'S CONFIDENTIAL HOT LINE WOULD BE BETTER TO GET ACTION. THE FAA 'INVESTIGATED' BUT COULD DO NOTHING BECAUSE I INSIST ON PROTECTING MY IDENTITY (JOB AND PERSONAL SAFETY). I AM PREPARING A COMPOSITE (ANONYMOUS) LETTER DESCRIBING THE CAPTS' GROUP BEHAVIORS IN HOPES THAT IT WILL CAUSE THEM TO RECOGNIZE THEMSELVES. I AM ALSO APCHING THE NEW GROUP SAFETY PEOPLE.

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.