Narrative:

X was the PIC as well as the PF. We departed bna for 6a4. VFR conditions were reached at tri and we proceeded VFR (IFR was canceled) to 6a4. The plan was to overfly 0a9 and proceed to 6a4. We were at 3000 ft when we could see around holston mountain. I could tell that we were not going to be able to proceed VFR and told X that I was not comfortable with the situation and recommended that we not proceed. He continued. He descended to 2400 ft and continued up the valley toward 6a4. X was not 500 ft below the bases of the clouds. He was in and out of the bases, and the peaks of the mountains were obscured by clouds. At 4.3 mi from 0a9 (GPS milage) he climbed up into the clouds and entered a turn toward an obscured peak. He continued his climb IMC to 6000 ft and leveled off IMC while VFR. When tri cities approach was reached we were at the same altitude as a C172 and 3 mi distance with the same direction of flight. Instead of climbing he descended to 5000 ft. Still at an IFR altitude, IMC without IFR clearance, and he does not know the MEA in that area. When clear of the traffic conflict he got an IFR clearance and was vectored back to VFR conditions, and he proceeded VFR and landed at 0a9.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE200 ACFT. FLC ENTERED IMC CONDITIONS WHILE ON VFR FLT PLAN AND CLBED IMC. WHEN CONTACTING ATC THEY WERE ADVISED OF TFC AT THEIR ALT. CFTT AND AIRSPACE PENETRATION.

Narrative: X WAS THE PIC AS WELL AS THE PF. WE DEPARTED BNA FOR 6A4. VFR CONDITIONS WERE REACHED AT TRI AND WE PROCEEDED VFR (IFR WAS CANCELED) TO 6A4. THE PLAN WAS TO OVERFLY 0A9 AND PROCEED TO 6A4. WE WERE AT 3000 FT WHEN WE COULD SEE AROUND HOLSTON MOUNTAIN. I COULD TELL THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROCEED VFR AND TOLD X THAT I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE SIT AND RECOMMENDED THAT WE NOT PROCEED. HE CONTINUED. HE DSNDED TO 2400 FT AND CONTINUED UP THE VALLEY TOWARD 6A4. X WAS NOT 500 FT BELOW THE BASES OF THE CLOUDS. HE WAS IN AND OUT OF THE BASES, AND THE PEAKS OF THE MOUNTAINS WERE OBSCURED BY CLOUDS. AT 4.3 MI FROM 0A9 (GPS MILAGE) HE CLBED UP INTO THE CLOUDS AND ENTERED A TURN TOWARD AN OBSCURED PEAK. HE CONTINUED HIS CLB IMC TO 6000 FT AND LEVELED OFF IMC WHILE VFR. WHEN TRI CITIES APCH WAS REACHED WE WERE AT THE SAME ALT AS A C172 AND 3 MI DISTANCE WITH THE SAME DIRECTION OF FLT. INSTEAD OF CLBING HE DSNDED TO 5000 FT. STILL AT AN IFR ALT, IMC WITHOUT IFR CLRNC, AND HE DOES NOT KNOW THE MEA IN THAT AREA. WHEN CLR OF THE TFC CONFLICT HE GOT AN IFR CLRNC AND WAS VECTORED BACK TO VFR CONDITIONS, AND HE PROCEEDED VFR AND LANDED AT 0A9.

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.