PF on a VFR flight plan encounters IMC and lands on a highway.

Attributes
ACN	351144
Time
Date	199610
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : uni
State Reference	OH
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid tower : bmg
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
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 : 80 flight time type : 80
ASRS Report	351144
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : non radar
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In sum: reporter checked the WX for a flight from 4g4 to uni and found it to be marginal VFR. He had doubts but took off anyway after being reassured by another pilot. He ran into WX and could not find an airport. He cast about for 2 hours and finally decided to land on a highway. Safe landing, no damage, aircraft secured clear of highway traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PF ON A VFR FLT PLAN ENCOUNTERS IMC AND LANDS ON A HWY.

Narrative: IN SUM: RPTR CHKED THE WX FOR A FLT FROM 4G4 TO UNI AND FOUND IT TO BE MARGINAL VFR. HE HAD DOUBTS BUT TOOK OFF ANYWAY AFTER BEING REASSURED BY ANOTHER PLT. HE RAN INTO WX AND COULD NOT FIND AN ARPT. HE CAST ABOUT FOR 2 HRS AND FINALLY DECIDED TO LAND ON A HWY. SAFE LNDG, NO DAMAGE, ACFT SECURED CLR OF HWY TFC.

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.