Small aircraft twin descends below fog to make an approach, finds ceiling lowering, climbs in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	317563
Time
Date	199509
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ob5
State Reference	MA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 700 agl bound upper : 700
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zbw
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : go around other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 4700
ASRS Report	317576
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : observer
Qualification	pilot : private
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The area around OB5 was covered with a layer of fog when I arrived. A pilot on the ground responded to my call to anyone at OB5 to ask the ceiling at the field. He said the ceiling was about 1100 ft and breaking up to the south. I attempted to get under the fog layer a couple of mi from the airport and found the ceiling lower as I approached the field. As I entered the downwind, I encountered the fog and realized I couldn't stay VFR. I turned back and climbed through the fog to VFR conditions. I contacted center and got an instrument clearance to the field and landed without incident. I realized I should have checked the WX at OB5 even though everywhere else was perfectly clear. I also should have requested the instrument clearance as soon as I saw the fog over the airport area.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA TWIN DSNDS BELOW FOG TO MAKE AN APCH, FINDS CEILING LOWERING, CLBS IN IMC.

Narrative: THE AREA AROUND OB5 WAS COVERED WITH A LAYER OF FOG WHEN I ARRIVED. A PLT ON THE GND RESPONDED TO MY CALL TO ANYONE AT OB5 TO ASK THE CEILING AT THE FIELD. HE SAID THE CEILING WAS ABOUT 1100 FT AND BREAKING UP TO THE S. I ATTEMPTED TO GET UNDER THE FOG LAYER A COUPLE OF MI FROM THE ARPT AND FOUND THE CEILING LOWER AS I APCHED THE FIELD. AS I ENTERED THE DOWNWIND, I ENCOUNTERED THE FOG AND REALIZED I COULDN'T STAY VFR. I TURNED BACK AND CLBED THROUGH THE FOG TO VFR CONDITIONS. I CONTACTED CTR AND GOT AN INST CLRNC TO THE FIELD AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. I REALIZED I SHOULD HAVE CHKED THE WX AT OB5 EVEN THOUGH EVERYWHERE ELSE WAS PERFECTLY CLR. I ALSO SHOULD HAVE REQUESTED THE INST CLRNC AS SOON AS I SAW THE FOG OVER THE ARPT AREA.

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.