A GA pilot of an small aircraft takes off VFR in IMC conditions. He assumed that the ASOS report at N88 was incorrect and intended to remain VFR until he could pick up his IFR clearance after takeoff.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	361900
Time
Date	199703
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : n88
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 600 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 1800 flight time type : 1700
ASRS Report	361900
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Forecast at XA30 am for 2500 ft ceiling and VFR on my route. Took off at XD00 am and entered clouds at 600 ft AGL. I had filed an IFR plan and was going to open it in the air. Decided to continue climb in clouds and called approach to open plan. Doylestown has an ASOS in the test mode which was calling for IFR conditions, but a plane had just landed VFR and the ceiling looked VFR to me so I decided the ASOS must be inaccurate. I should have gotten clearance on the ground.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A GA PLT OF AN SMA TAKES OFF VFR IN IMC CONDITIONS. HE ASSUMED THAT THE ASOS RPT AT N88 WAS INCORRECT AND INTENDED TO REMAIN VFR UNTIL HE COULD PICK UP HIS IFR CLRNC AFTER TKOF.

Narrative: FORECAST AT XA30 AM FOR 2500 FT CEILING AND VFR ON MY RTE. TOOK OFF AT XD00 AM AND ENTERED CLOUDS AT 600 FT AGL. I HAD FILED AN IFR PLAN AND WAS GOING TO OPEN IT IN THE AIR. DECIDED TO CONTINUE CLB IN CLOUDS AND CALLED APCH TO OPEN PLAN. DOYLESTOWN HAS AN ASOS IN THE TEST MODE WHICH WAS CALLING FOR IFR CONDITIONS, BUT A PLANE HAD JUST LANDED VFR AND THE CEILING LOOKED VFR TO ME SO I DECIDED THE ASOS MUST BE INACCURATE. I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN CLRNC ON THE GND.

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.