In-flight WX encounter on a VFR flight plan. VFR in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	305635
Time
Date	199505
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11500 msl bound upper : 14000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zoa
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time total : 325 flight time type : 3
ASRS Report	305635
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On may/xx/95 I departed natomas airport (Q96) at PM00Z with 3 passenger in a C-182/U. I opened my flight plan with rancho murietta FSS and climbed on course 74 degrees to tonopah, nv, 11500 ft was my cruise altitude. Clouds ahead appeared to be higher so I contacted sac flight following that I was climbing to 13500 ft. I was instructed at this time to contact ZOA. I reported in at 13500 ft. The approaching clouds were higher than anticipated, so I maneuvered around them maintaining VMC. During this maneuvering I inadvertently climbed above 14000 ft and momentarily got into IMC conditions. I reversed my course and got back to VMC conditions. I contacted ZOA and requested information on VFR airports nearby. I heard center talking to pilots about bishop airport. Center gave me a vector to bishop and we picked up a bearing and distance 158 degrees to 37 NM (GPS). We flew to bishop airport and landed. I believe my error, in this episode, was not diverting to a south route instead of climbing to 13500 ft to climb over clouds. My WX briefing did not prepare me for the conditions I encountered knowing that these conditions existed along my route I would have filed for bakersfield and gone around then.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INFLT WX ENCOUNTER ON A VFR FLT PLAN. VFR IN IMC.

Narrative: ON MAY/XX/95 I DEPARTED NATOMAS ARPT (Q96) AT PM00Z WITH 3 PAX IN A C-182/U. I OPENED MY FLT PLAN WITH RANCHO MURIETTA FSS AND CLBED ON COURSE 74 DEGS TO TONOPAH, NV, 11500 FT WAS MY CRUISE ALT. CLOUDS AHEAD APPEARED TO BE HIGHER SO I CONTACTED SAC FLT FOLLOWING THAT I WAS CLBING TO 13500 FT. I WAS INSTRUCTED AT THIS TIME TO CONTACT ZOA. I RPTED IN AT 13500 FT. THE APCHING CLOUDS WERE HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED, SO I MANEUVERED AROUND THEM MAINTAINING VMC. DURING THIS MANEUVERING I INADVERTENTLY CLBED ABOVE 14000 FT AND MOMENTARILY GOT INTO IMC CONDITIONS. I REVERSED MY COURSE AND GOT BACK TO VMC CONDITIONS. I CONTACTED ZOA AND REQUESTED INFO ON VFR ARPTS NEARBY. I HEARD CTR TALKING TO PLTS ABOUT BISHOP ARPT. CTR GAVE ME A VECTOR TO BISHOP AND WE PICKED UP A BEARING AND DISTANCE 158 DEGS TO 37 NM (GPS). WE FLEW TO BISHOP ARPT AND LANDED. I BELIEVE MY ERROR, IN THIS EPISODE, WAS NOT DIVERTING TO A S RTE INSTEAD OF CLBING TO 13500 FT TO CLB OVER CLOUDS. MY WX BRIEFING DID NOT PREPARE ME FOR THE CONDITIONS I ENCOUNTERED KNOWING THAT THESE CONDITIONS EXISTED ALONG MY RTE I WOULD HAVE FILED FOR BAKERSFIELD AND GONE AROUND THEN.

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.