IMC in VFR flight by private pilot.

Attributes
ACN	297099
Time
Date	199502
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sem airport : l0z
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 2900
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 22 flight time total : 439 flight time type : 167
ASRS Report	297099
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed L02 at PM00, destination 81J, with 1600 ft ceiling and 7 mi visibility., 1 hour later the visibility deteriorated to 4 mi, and I was very concerned about the proximity of 2 1800 ft towers in my vicinity. I circled for a few mins trying to see the towers. I could not determine my position in relation to the towers, and could not convince myself to fly any direction for fear of not being able to avoid these obstacles. Even a 180 degree turn from my route of flight may have put me on course towards the towers if I had previously passed by them without seeing them. I had received a PIREP that the cloud tops were 3000 ft MSL, and an FSS briefing that 81J was clear and sunny. With no adequate landing site within the circle that I was flying, I made the decision to fly the same circle upwards until I reached the top of the clouds. At 2900 ft MSL, I was in perfectly clear sunshine. By establishing a circle of flight with 4 mi visibility, I determined that I would be able to fly the same circle in an upward spiral and not encounter either the towers nor another airplane. Executing any other maneuver or flying any other direction seemed to me to hold more danger than the one that I chose to pursue.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IMC IN VFR FLT BY PVT PLT.

Narrative: I DEPARTED L02 AT PM00, DEST 81J, WITH 1600 FT CEILING AND 7 MI VISIBILITY., 1 HR LATER THE VISIBILITY DETERIORATED TO 4 MI, AND I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROX OF 2 1800 FT TWRS IN MY VICINITY. I CIRCLED FOR A FEW MINS TRYING TO SEE THE TWRS. I COULD NOT DETERMINE MY POS IN RELATION TO THE TWRS, AND COULD NOT CONVINCE MYSELF TO FLY ANY DIRECTION FOR FEAR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO AVOID THESE OBSTACLES. EVEN A 180 DEG TURN FROM MY RTE OF FLT MAY HAVE PUT ME ON COURSE TOWARDS THE TWRS IF I HAD PREVIOUSLY PASSED BY THEM WITHOUT SEEING THEM. I HAD RECEIVED A PIREP THAT THE CLOUD TOPS WERE 3000 FT MSL, AND AN FSS BRIEFING THAT 81J WAS CLR AND SUNNY. WITH NO ADEQUATE LNDG SITE WITHIN THE CIRCLE THAT I WAS FLYING, I MADE THE DECISION TO FLY THE SAME CIRCLE UPWARDS UNTIL I REACHED THE TOP OF THE CLOUDS. AT 2900 FT MSL, I WAS IN PERFECTLY CLR SUNSHINE. BY ESTABLISHING A CIRCLE OF FLT WITH 4 MI VISIBILITY, I DETERMINED THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO FLY THE SAME CIRCLE IN AN UPWARD SPIRAL AND NOT ENCOUNTER EITHER THE TWRS NOR ANOTHER AIRPLANE. EXECUTING ANY OTHER MANEUVER OR FLYING ANY OTHER DIRECTION SEEMED TO ME TO HOLD MORE DANGER THAN THE ONE THAT I CHOSE TO PURSUE.

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.