Narrative:

WX was reported 1200 and 4 mi at msp and fcm, but VFR 4000 - 10000 ft AGL by minnesota/wisconsin state line, just 20-30 mi east. After startup, ATIS was 1000 ft and 2 1/2 mi, so I requested SVFR. When I called ready, tower said 'are you going far? It is getting worse.' I said 'going to wisconsin' (where much better WX and tower cleared me for takeoff 'maintain SVFR at or below 1900 ft MSL'). I should have shut down because it turned out a lot worse. I was only able to climb to 1500 ft MSL before visibility was unacceptable. I am almost ready for IFR check ride, so I am comfortable on the gauges in this airplane. However, there are radio towers 1500 ft and 1700 ft and there is terrain 1200 ft MSL. The 1000-1200 ft ridges have suburbs on them, which I got far too close a look at. I may have gotten close to the TCA (savage, mn, water tower). The good news was that I was checking the TCA chart, and following the airway (V171) very carefully, being aware and staying away of the charted towers. However, 300 ft is not sufficient ground clearance. If I had been able to climb to 1800 - 1900 ft MSL, this would have been safe given 1 mi visibility and clear of clouds. Leaving late in the day (WX system slowly moving in) was a factor and a certain amount of 'get-homeitis.' in the future: file IFR and have plenty of obstacle clearance. Don't ask for a special unless sure can get to cleared altitude and have return to launch site. Set up (radios, approach plates, etc). Don't even think about it unless comfortable on instruments (even if not yet rated). Another contributing factor: big gulf between private VFR privileges and instrument rating, some countries (united kingdom possibly) have an intermediate 'IMC' rating, which is an IFR rating with much higher minimums and limited privileges.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PVT PLT PERSISTED ON HIS SVFR DEP LONG AFTER IT WAS PRUDENT.

Narrative: WX WAS RPTED 1200 AND 4 MI AT MSP AND FCM, BUT VFR 4000 - 10000 FT AGL BY MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN STATE LINE, JUST 20-30 MI E. AFTER STARTUP, ATIS WAS 1000 FT AND 2 1/2 MI, SO I REQUESTED SVFR. WHEN I CALLED READY, TWR SAID 'ARE YOU GOING FAR? IT IS GETTING WORSE.' I SAID 'GOING TO WISCONSIN' (WHERE MUCH BETTER WX AND TWR CLRED ME FOR TKOF 'MAINTAIN SVFR AT OR BELOW 1900 FT MSL'). I SHOULD HAVE SHUT DOWN BECAUSE IT TURNED OUT A LOT WORSE. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO CLB TO 1500 FT MSL BEFORE VISIBILITY WAS UNACCEPTABLE. I AM ALMOST READY FOR IFR CHK RIDE, SO I AM COMFORTABLE ON THE GAUGES IN THIS AIRPLANE. HOWEVER, THERE ARE RADIO TWRS 1500 FT AND 1700 FT AND THERE IS TERRAIN 1200 FT MSL. THE 1000-1200 FT RIDGES HAVE SUBURBS ON THEM, WHICH I GOT FAR TOO CLOSE A LOOK AT. I MAY HAVE GOTTEN CLOSE TO THE TCA (SAVAGE, MN, WATER TWR). THE GOOD NEWS WAS THAT I WAS CHKING THE TCA CHART, AND FOLLOWING THE AIRWAY (V171) VERY CAREFULLY, BEING AWARE AND STAYING AWAY OF THE CHARTED TWRS. HOWEVER, 300 FT IS NOT SUFFICIENT GND CLRNC. IF I HAD BEEN ABLE TO CLB TO 1800 - 1900 FT MSL, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN SAFE GIVEN 1 MI VISIBILITY AND CLR OF CLOUDS. LEAVING LATE IN THE DAY (WX SYS SLOWLY MOVING IN) WAS A FACTOR AND A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF 'GET-HOMEITIS.' IN THE FUTURE: FILE IFR AND HAVE PLENTY OF OBSTACLE CLRNC. DON'T ASK FOR A SPECIAL UNLESS SURE CAN GET TO CLRED ALT AND HAVE RETURN TO LAUNCH SITE. SET UP (RADIOS, APCH PLATES, ETC). DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT UNLESS COMFORTABLE ON INSTS (EVEN IF NOT YET RATED). ANOTHER CONTRIBUTING FACTOR: BIG GULF BTWN PVT VFR PRIVILEGES AND INST RATING, SOME COUNTRIES (UNITED KINGDOM POSSIBLY) HAVE AN INTERMEDIATE 'IMC' RATING, WHICH IS AN IFR RATING WITH MUCH HIGHER MINIMUMS AND LIMITED PRIVILEGES.

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.