Small aircraft departed ojc for short flight in VFR conditions to K81. On the ground 1 hour and 45 m...

Attributes
ACN	361889
Time
Date	199702
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ojc
State Reference	KS
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1700 msl bound upper : 5500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 23 flight time total : 103 flight time type : 52
ASRS Report	361889
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : assigned or threatened penalties faa : investigated other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

At approximately XA10 CST I took off from ojc for a 19 NM direct flight to K81. ATIS (ojc) at the time of departure was indicated ceilings at 2500 ft broken and 3100 ft overcast, visibility 10 mi and temperature/dewpoint of 11 degrees C and 7 degrees C. Arrival at (K81) was approximately XA30. I was on the ground for about 45 mins to 1 hour. Takeoff from K81 for a return flight to ojc was approximately SB30. While en route to ojc I encountered less-than-expected ceilings of 600-800 ft. I immediately contacted ojc tower for advisory and assistance. Ojc tower advised that ojc was closed to VFR and gave me the frequency for ZKC. ZKC advised to climb to 5500 ft and was eventually vectored to topeka (forbes AFB) where VFR conditions remained. Approach and landing was made under VFR. Kansas city was contacted for report. Lessons learned: 1) never rely solely on ATIS for current WX conditions or advisories, 2) always contact flight service prior to takeoff if WX conditions are marginal even if it is for a very short flight, 3) always contact flight service for WX brief regardless of current conditions if any part of your flight will be at night even if you plan to stay in the pattern, 4) WX conditions can change from VFR to IFR in as little as 10-15 mins or less, and 5) respect temperature/dewpoint spread. ATIS reported a 4 degree C spread at takeoff from ojc and I later learned that the spread was 2 degrees C at the time I departed K81.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA DEPARTED OJC FOR SHORT FLT IN VFR CONDITIONS TO K81. ON THE GND 1 HR AND 45 MINS. ON RETURN FLT ENCOUNTERED IFR CONDITIONS, NOT INST RATED. CALLED OJC TWR WHO GAVE HIM CTR FREQ AND WAS VECTORED TO VFR WX AND LANDED FORBES AFB. FAA THREATENED ACTION.

Narrative: AT APPROX XA10 CST I TOOK OFF FROM OJC FOR A 19 NM DIRECT FLT TO K81. ATIS (OJC) AT THE TIME OF DEP WAS INDICATED CEILINGS AT 2500 FT BROKEN AND 3100 FT OVCST, VISIBILITY 10 MI AND TEMP/DEWPOINT OF 11 DEGS C AND 7 DEGS C. ARR AT (K81) WAS APPROX XA30. I WAS ON THE GND FOR ABOUT 45 MINS TO 1 HR. TKOF FROM K81 FOR A RETURN FLT TO OJC WAS APPROX SB30. WHILE ENRTE TO OJC I ENCOUNTERED LESS-THAN-EXPECTED CEILINGS OF 600-800 FT. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED OJC TWR FOR ADVISORY AND ASSISTANCE. OJC TWR ADVISED THAT OJC WAS CLOSED TO VFR AND GAVE ME THE FREQ FOR ZKC. ZKC ADVISED TO CLB TO 5500 FT AND WAS EVENTUALLY VECTORED TO TOPEKA (FORBES AFB) WHERE VFR CONDITIONS REMAINED. APCH AND LNDG WAS MADE UNDER VFR. KANSAS CITY WAS CONTACTED FOR RPT. LESSONS LEARNED: 1) NEVER RELY SOLELY ON ATIS FOR CURRENT WX CONDITIONS OR ADVISORIES, 2) ALWAYS CONTACT FLT SVC PRIOR TO TKOF IF WX CONDITIONS ARE MARGINAL EVEN IF IT IS FOR A VERY SHORT FLT, 3) ALWAYS CONTACT FLT SVC FOR WX BRIEF REGARDLESS OF CURRENT CONDITIONS IF ANY PART OF YOUR FLT WILL BE AT NIGHT EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO STAY IN THE PATTERN, 4) WX CONDITIONS CAN CHANGE FROM VFR TO IFR IN AS LITTLE AS 10-15 MINS OR LESS, AND 5) RESPECT TEMP/DEWPOINT SPREAD. ATIS RPTED A 4 DEG C SPREAD AT TKOF FROM OJC AND I LATER LEARNED THAT THE SPREAD WAS 2 DEGS C AT THE TIME I DEPARTED K81.

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 departed ojc for short flight in VFR conditions to K81. On the ground 1 hour and 45 mins. On return flight encountered IFR conditions, not instrument rated. Called ojc tower who gave him center frequency and was vectored to VFR WX and landed forbes AFB. FAA threatened action.