Narrative:

Conditions much worse than forecast at destination. Low time in this type of condition, and not as prepared due to forecast (expected visual approach, 3500 ft scattered). Initial problem was turning to reciprocal heading at jamma and corrected when notified by ATC then inability to complete the ILS runway 18 approach at lebanon. Was somewhat disoriented and unsure of position. Requested vectors to nearest VFR, naved to concord (con) without incident and landed VFR. I think these problems started when I relied upon my duat briefing, possibly a real briefer could have alerted me to the possibility of this situation, also receiving in-flight WX information would have helped. More preflight scrutiny of the approach plates and route would have been beneficial. Also, as a low time IFR pilot bumping around in IMC with a non pilot I had a difficult time reviewing the approach plate and trying to keep the aircraft under control (especially since I am used to commercial plates and was using government). In the future, I think it would be good to always use one or the other. I don't know if this is the kind of thing that pilots get violated for, but know I made some mistakes and am paranoid. It would be a real safety enhancement if pilots could get ATC help even if it means changing the plan without fear of any action. I think this is something that may keep some pilots flying the plan in spite of their instincts that things are amiss. The same goes for VFR pilots being 'caught' where they shouldn't be and taking extra risks rather than contacting ATC for help.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT ENCOUNTERED WX WORSE THAN HE ANTICIPATED AND BECAME DISORIENTED. WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE AN ILS APCH AND REQUESTED VECTORS TO NEAREST VFR ARPT WHERE AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

Narrative: CONDITIONS MUCH WORSE THAN FORECAST AT DEST. LOW TIME IN THIS TYPE OF CONDITION, AND NOT AS PREPARED DUE TO FORECAST (EXPECTED VISUAL APCH, 3500 FT SCATTERED). INITIAL PROB WAS TURNING TO RECIPROCAL HDG AT JAMMA AND CORRECTED WHEN NOTIFIED BY ATC THEN INABILITY TO COMPLETE THE ILS RWY 18 APCH AT LEBANON. WAS SOMEWHAT DISORIENTED AND UNSURE OF POS. REQUESTED VECTORS TO NEAREST VFR, NAVED TO CONCORD (CON) WITHOUT INCIDENT AND LANDED VFR. I THINK THESE PROBS STARTED WHEN I RELIED UPON MY DUAT BRIEFING, POSSIBLY A REAL BRIEFER COULD HAVE ALERTED ME TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS SIT, ALSO RECEIVING INFLT WX INFO WOULD HAVE HELPED. MORE PREFLT SCRUTINY OF THE APCH PLATES AND RTE WOULD HAVE BEEN BENEFICIAL. ALSO, AS A LOW TIME IFR PLT BUMPING AROUND IN IMC WITH A NON PLT I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME REVIEWING THE APCH PLATE AND TRYING TO KEEP THE ACFT UNDER CTL (ESPECIALLY SINCE I AM USED TO COMMERCIAL PLATES AND WAS USING GOV). IN THE FUTURE, I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO ALWAYS USE ONE OR THE OTHER. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT PLTS GET VIOLATED FOR, BUT KNOW I MADE SOME MISTAKES AND AM PARANOID. IT WOULD BE A REAL SAFETY ENHANCEMENT IF PLTS COULD GET ATC HELP EVEN IF IT MEANS CHANGING THE PLAN WITHOUT FEAR OF ANY ACTION. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MAY KEEP SOME PLTS FLYING THE PLAN IN SPITE OF THEIR INSTINCTS THAT THINGS ARE AMISS. THE SAME GOES FOR VFR PLTS BEING 'CAUGHT' WHERE THEY SHOULDN'T BE AND TAKING EXTRA RISKS RATHER THAN CONTACTING ATC FOR HELP.

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.