Small aircraft pilot flies IFR flight plan, makes instrument approach, without benefit of an IFR rat...

Attributes
ACN	334091
Time
Date	199604
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bos
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bos
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 39 flight time total : 323 flight time type : 323
ASRS Report	334091
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure 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 a pleasure flight from ack to orh, I continued to attempt VFR flight into deteriorating WX in respect to the ceiling. When I realized that I could no longer remain in VFR conditions I requested an air file from present position to orh. I was subsequently cleared from my position to orh via radar vectors to whybe intersection, which has a transition to the ILS runway 29 at orh. I proceeded to execute the transition and the approach to the ILS runway 29 at orh and landed without incident. In retrospect I never should have attempted to continue the flight. I should have landed at a more suitable time, before the ceiling required an IFR clearance. Factors in my continued flight included the fact that I have completed an instrument training course, and await only the check ride. This is tentatively scheduled. Therefore, I believed that it would be safe for me to conclude my trip in IFR conditions. In retrospect it was a foolish and immature thing to do, and I have learned greatly from my judgement error. Risking the life and safety of myself and passenger, not to mention any FAA enforcement action which may come of this, was certainly not worth it. I shall not ever attempt flight into IFR conditions until and unless appropriately rated.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT FLIES IFR FLT PLAN, MAKES INST APCH, WITHOUT BENEFIT OF AN IFR RATING.

Narrative: ON A PLEASURE FLT FROM ACK TO ORH, I CONTINUED TO ATTEMPT VFR FLT INTO DETERIORATING WX IN RESPECT TO THE CEILING. WHEN I REALIZED THAT I COULD NO LONGER REMAIN IN VFR CONDITIONS I REQUESTED AN AIR FILE FROM PRESENT POS TO ORH. I WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CLRED FROM MY POS TO ORH VIA RADAR VECTORS TO WHYBE INTXN, WHICH HAS A TRANSITION TO THE ILS RWY 29 AT ORH. I PROCEEDED TO EXECUTE THE TRANSITION AND THE APCH TO THE ILS RWY 29 AT ORH AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. IN RETROSPECT I NEVER SHOULD HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE THE FLT. I SHOULD HAVE LANDED AT A MORE SUITABLE TIME, BEFORE THE CEILING REQUIRED AN IFR CLRNC. FACTORS IN MY CONTINUED FLT INCLUDED THE FACT THAT I HAVE COMPLETED AN INST TRAINING COURSE, AND AWAIT ONLY THE CHK RIDE. THIS IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED. THEREFORE, I BELIEVED THAT IT WOULD BE SAFE FOR ME TO CONCLUDE MY TRIP IN IFR CONDITIONS. IN RETROSPECT IT WAS A FOOLISH AND IMMATURE THING TO DO, AND I HAVE LEARNED GREATLY FROM MY JUDGEMENT ERROR. RISKING THE LIFE AND SAFETY OF MYSELF AND PAX, NOT TO MENTION ANY FAA ENFORCEMENT ACTION WHICH MAY COME OF THIS, WAS CERTAINLY NOT WORTH IT. I SHALL NOT EVER ATTEMPT FLT INTO IFR CONDITIONS UNTIL AND UNLESS APPROPRIATELY RATED.

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.

Small aircraft pilot flies IFR flight plan, makes instrument approach, without benefit of an IFR rating.