Small transport flies into IMC while on a VFR flight plan.

Attributes
ACN	339657
Time
Date	199606
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phl
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3500 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl tracon : flo
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 2400 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	339657
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : exited penetrated airspace none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The aircraft was initially on an instrument flight plan from ezf-pne. At approximately 50 NM from pne both WX advisories at phl and pne reported VFR with an approximately 4000-5000 ft scattered layer visibility greater than 5 mi. Conditions in flight concerned with these reports and the decision was made to cancel IFR, continue with VFR advisories, and descend to 3500 ft. At approximately 3700 ft the visibility decreased to approximately 2 mi and the aircraft entered IMC. Requests for an altitude change were ignored by ATC and I continued at 3500 ft in the interest of safety (on a transponder code, assigned altitude and heading, etc). After clearing the class B I was able to reestablish VFR and continue to landing in VMC. I could have climbed to maintain VMC initially, but felt this would create a greater problem for ATC and other traffic. I feel that this entire situation could have been averted and both or either phl or pne put out a special due to a scattered layer becoming overcast.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT FLIES INTO IMC WHILE ON A VFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: THE ACFT WAS INITIALLY ON AN INST FLT PLAN FROM EZF-PNE. AT APPROX 50 NM FROM PNE BOTH WX ADVISORIES AT PHL AND PNE RPTED VFR WITH AN APPROX 4000-5000 FT SCATTERED LAYER VISIBILITY GREATER THAN 5 MI. CONDITIONS IN FLT CONCERNED WITH THESE RPTS AND THE DECISION WAS MADE TO CANCEL IFR, CONTINUE WITH VFR ADVISORIES, AND DSND TO 3500 FT. AT APPROX 3700 FT THE VISIBILITY DECREASED TO APPROX 2 MI AND THE ACFT ENTERED IMC. REQUESTS FOR AN ALT CHANGE WERE IGNORED BY ATC AND I CONTINUED AT 3500 FT IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY (ON A XPONDER CODE, ASSIGNED ALT AND HDG, ETC). AFTER CLRING THE CLASS B I WAS ABLE TO REESTABLISH VFR AND CONTINUE TO LNDG IN VMC. I COULD HAVE CLBED TO MAINTAIN VMC INITIALLY, BUT FELT THIS WOULD CREATE A GREATER PROB FOR ATC AND OTHER TFC. I FEEL THAT THIS ENTIRE SIT COULD HAVE BEEN AVERTED AND BOTH OR EITHER PHL OR PNE PUT OUT A SPECIAL DUE TO A SCATTERED LAYER BECOMING OVCST.

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.