Private pilot in a C172 gets lost after running into bad WX at night. No flight plan had been filed. Pilot low time, not IFR rated. Was on his way home to zzv from fl. He had failed to update any en route WX.

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Attributes
ACN	365691
Time
Date	199708
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zzv
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude other other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 81 flight time total : 345 flight time type : 222
ASRS Report	365691
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency other other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After FSS briefing showing a clear trip back to zzv from zephyr hills, fl, all was well including an 8500 ft flight over the mountains from elkin, nc, to beckley, wv. Fuel was taken on in elkin and there was ample quantity to reach our destination. Upon crossing the mountains, I dropped to 4500 ft and continued toward zzv. Parkersburg, wv, airport was clearly seen to my right. VFR conditions continued. Upon reaching mc connellsville, oh, we noticed a drop in ceiling and flew at 2500 ft to the river. From that point on, everything went dark and visibility went to '0.' I climbed to 4000 ft MSL and was forced to use my instruments. Extreme turbulence made it impossible to find an emergency frequency and out of desperation, I called may day on 122.8, the only frequency I had 'up' at the time. Someone answered (I assumed to be another plane) and tried to find someone to locate me that I could follow to safety. This failed and I was handed off to FSS (where?) and after an identify was handed to ZID. ZID then 'talked' me to parkersburg, wv, airport where I landed safely despite the windshear reported on runway 3. My thanks go to 'mr X' at ZID. I owe him my life.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT IN A C172 GETS LOST AFTER RUNNING INTO BAD WX AT NIGHT. NO FLT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. PLT LOW TIME, NOT IFR RATED. WAS ON HIS WAY HOME TO ZZV FROM FL. HE HAD FAILED TO UPDATE ANY ENRTE WX.

Narrative: AFTER FSS BRIEFING SHOWING A CLR TRIP BACK TO ZZV FROM ZEPHYR HILLS, FL, ALL WAS WELL INCLUDING AN 8500 FT FLT OVER THE MOUNTAINS FROM ELKIN, NC, TO BECKLEY, WV. FUEL WAS TAKEN ON IN ELKIN AND THERE WAS AMPLE QUANTITY TO REACH OUR DEST. UPON XING THE MOUNTAINS, I DROPPED TO 4500 FT AND CONTINUED TOWARD ZZV. PARKERSBURG, WV, ARPT WAS CLRLY SEEN TO MY R. VFR CONDITIONS CONTINUED. UPON REACHING MC CONNELLSVILLE, OH, WE NOTICED A DROP IN CEILING AND FLEW AT 2500 FT TO THE RIVER. FROM THAT POINT ON, EVERYTHING WENT DARK AND VISIBILITY WENT TO '0.' I CLBED TO 4000 FT MSL AND WAS FORCED TO USE MY INSTS. EXTREME TURB MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND AN EMER FREQ AND OUT OF DESPERATION, I CALLED MAY DAY ON 122.8, THE ONLY FREQ I HAD 'UP' AT THE TIME. SOMEONE ANSWERED (I ASSUMED TO BE ANOTHER PLANE) AND TRIED TO FIND SOMEONE TO LOCATE ME THAT I COULD FOLLOW TO SAFETY. THIS FAILED AND I WAS HANDED OFF TO FSS (WHERE?) AND AFTER AN IDENT WAS HANDED TO ZID. ZID THEN 'TALKED' ME TO PARKERSBURG, WV, ARPT WHERE I LANDED SAFELY DESPITE THE WINDSHEAR RPTED ON RWY 3. MY THANKS GO TO 'MR X' AT ZID. I OWE HIM MY LIFE.

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.