Lockheed L1049 crew flew in IMC conditions with no IFR flight plan.

Attributes
ACN	406600
Time
Date	199806
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : oxr
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 800 msl bound upper : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : oxr
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Lockheed Corp Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 2004
ASRS Report	406600
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed camarillo, in VMC, approximately XA30 to XB00. Operation set up with ground personnel to record operation for records. To avoid conflicts at cma, it was arranged for most recording to be done at oxnard. Arrival at oxnard was from the west and a fringe of cloud formed so that, on landing, it was overcast. Tower never reported the field IMC and I never heard the ATIS. On takeoff we had to turn downwind at 800 ft MSL, or less, in order to remain clear of clouds. We made a low approach and turned to the other side of the airport (the PIC thought the WX better on that side). Again we were at 800 ft (maybe less) to remain clear of clouds. We landed and did a final departure. The 'clearing clouds' were still at 800 ft broken to overcast at the departure end. The operation should not have been so casual. WX at oxnard should have been checked and we should have done everything at cma.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOCKHEED L1049 CREW FLEW IN IMC CONDITIONS WITH NO IFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: DEPARTED CAMARILLO, IN VMC, APPROX XA30 TO XB00. OP SET UP WITH GND PERSONNEL TO RECORD OP FOR RECORDS. TO AVOID CONFLICTS AT CMA, IT WAS ARRANGED FOR MOST RECORDING TO BE DONE AT OXNARD. ARR AT OXNARD WAS FROM THE W AND A FRINGE OF CLOUD FORMED SO THAT, ON LNDG, IT WAS OVCST. TWR NEVER RPTED THE FIELD IMC AND I NEVER HEARD THE ATIS. ON TKOF WE HAD TO TURN DOWNWIND AT 800 FT MSL, OR LESS, IN ORDER TO REMAIN CLR OF CLOUDS. WE MADE A LOW APCH AND TURNED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ARPT (THE PIC THOUGHT THE WX BETTER ON THAT SIDE). AGAIN WE WERE AT 800 FT (MAYBE LESS) TO REMAIN CLR OF CLOUDS. WE LANDED AND DID A FINAL DEP. THE 'CLRING CLOUDS' WERE STILL AT 800 FT BROKEN TO OVCST AT THE DEP END. THE OP SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO CASUAL. WX AT OXNARD SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHKED AND WE SHOULD HAVE DONE EVERYTHING AT CMA.

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.