Private pilot of an RV4 encountered WX during cruise and got caught on top. Reporter contacted approach for assistance and received vectors to an area for a VFR descent. Other pilots in the area helped in giving ATC WX information so the reporter could maintain VFR to let down and land.

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Attributes
ACN	410152
Time
Date	199807
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tys
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tys tower : lga
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Amateur (Home) Built
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 450 flight time type : 170
ASRS Report	410152
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist other
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

On the course of my flight, I flew through a light hazy condition to on top of the haze. Once on top I continued on my course. At this time the haze turned to clouds below me, while I was still maintaining VFR on top. As I continued on, the clouds below began to thicken and rise. I had to climb higher to maintain VFR requirements. Not being an IFR pilot, I began to feel uncomfortable on top, especially not knowing if the WX ahead was going to get better. I knew the further north I flew the better it would get, but at that time I just wanted to get back on the ground. I contacted knoxville approach and made them aware of the circumstance I was in. Fortunately with the help of other pilots and approach, they vectored me to a clearing and I was able to safely descend maintaining VFR. I landed at downtown knoxville airport and called to thank the volunteers who assisted me in my need of help.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT OF AN RV4 ENCOUNTERED WX DURING CRUISE AND GOT CAUGHT ON TOP. RPTR CONTACTED APCH FOR ASSISTANCE AND RECEIVED VECTORS TO AN AREA FOR A VFR DSCNT. OTHER PLTS IN THE AREA HELPED IN GIVING ATC WX INFO SO THE RPTR COULD MAINTAIN VFR TO LET DOWN AND LAND.

Narrative: ON THE COURSE OF MY FLT, I FLEW THROUGH A LIGHT HAZY CONDITION TO ON TOP OF THE HAZE. ONCE ON TOP I CONTINUED ON MY COURSE. AT THIS TIME THE HAZE TURNED TO CLOUDS BELOW ME, WHILE I WAS STILL MAINTAINING VFR ON TOP. AS I CONTINUED ON, THE CLOUDS BELOW BEGAN TO THICKEN AND RISE. I HAD TO CLB HIGHER TO MAINTAIN VFR REQUIREMENTS. NOT BEING An IFR PLT, I BEGAN TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE ON TOP, ESPECIALLY NOT KNOWING IF THE WX AHEAD WAS GOING TO GET BETTER. I KNEW THE FURTHER N I FLEW THE BETTER IT WOULD GET, BUT AT THAT TIME I JUST WANTED TO GET BACK ON THE GND. I CONTACTED KNOXVILLE APCH AND MADE THEM AWARE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCE I WAS IN. FORTUNATELY WITH THE HELP OF OTHER PLTS AND APCH, THEY VECTORED ME TO A CLRING AND I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DSND MAINTAINING VFR. I LANDED AT DOWNTOWN KNOXVILLE ARPT AND CALLED TO THANK THE VOLUNTEERS WHO ASSISTED ME IN MY NEED OF 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.