Narrative:

Departed cbe VFR expecting to arrive at pkb VFR above a broken layer. Cruised at 8500 ft. Winds were approximately 270 degrees, 50 KTS. Flight watch WX ckb-mgw overcast. Reduced progress due to 50 KT headwind would leave very little fuel if pkb was attempted (another 55 NM). Ckb approach was contacted and advised of situation. Fuel status 2 hours. Approach contacted aircraft in area looking for a broken cloud base, but none was found. Approach vectored us to intercept the localizer approximately 20 mi out for runway 21. I declared an emergency and descended into the clouds at 5500-6000 ft MSL. Broke out at 3800 ft and canceled emergency. Landed at ckb with 1.3 hours fuel. Tower requested I contact approach via phone. They were called and given my name and address. Chain of events: lure of 'improving' WX at destination. Had waited 4 days trying to cross these 3500 ft mountains (on vacation). Low ground speed indicated a problem reaching destination. Call ATC and confess. Decide to continue west where a controled field and possibly better ATC services were available and more favorable terrain. Human performance: 10 hours of hood time in last 18 months and another pilot in right seat (private). Made a controled descent through 1500 ft of cloud. A lower risk option (even with possible FAA sanctions) than an attempt to continue to pkb and possibly run out of fuel.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT ENCOUNTERS WX NOT AS BRIEFED AND MUST ENTER CLOUDS TO DSND RATHER THAN CONTINUE INTO POORER WX. NOT INST RATED.

Narrative: DEPARTED CBE VFR EXPECTING TO ARRIVE AT PKB VFR ABOVE A BROKEN LAYER. CRUISED AT 8500 FT. WINDS WERE APPROX 270 DEGS, 50 KTS. FLT WATCH WX CKB-MGW OVCST. REDUCED PROGRESS DUE TO 50 KT HEADWIND WOULD LEAVE VERY LITTLE FUEL IF PKB WAS ATTEMPTED (ANOTHER 55 NM). CKB APCH WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED OF SIT. FUEL STATUS 2 HRS. APCH CONTACTED ACFT IN AREA LOOKING FOR A BROKEN CLOUD BASE, BUT NONE WAS FOUND. APCH VECTORED US TO INTERCEPT THE LOC APPROX 20 MI OUT FOR RWY 21. I DECLARED AN EMER AND DSNDED INTO THE CLOUDS AT 5500-6000 FT MSL. BROKE OUT AT 3800 FT AND CANCELED EMER. LANDED AT CKB WITH 1.3 HRS FUEL. TWR REQUESTED I CONTACT APCH VIA PHONE. THEY WERE CALLED AND GIVEN MY NAME AND ADDRESS. CHAIN OF EVENTS: LURE OF 'IMPROVING' WX AT DEST. HAD WAITED 4 DAYS TRYING TO CROSS THESE 3500 FT MOUNTAINS (ON VACATION). LOW GND SPD INDICATED A PROB REACHING DEST. CALL ATC AND CONFESS. DECIDE TO CONTINUE W WHERE A CTLED FIELD AND POSSIBLY BETTER ATC SVCS WERE AVAILABLE AND MORE FAVORABLE TERRAIN. HUMAN PERFORMANCE: 10 HRS OF HOOD TIME IN LAST 18 MONTHS AND ANOTHER PLT IN R SEAT (PVT). MADE A CTLED DSCNT THROUGH 1500 FT OF CLOUD. A LOWER RISK OPTION (EVEN WITH POSSIBLE FAA SANCTIONS) THAN AN ATTEMPT TO CONTINUE TO PKB AND POSSIBLY RUN OUT OF FUEL.

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.