Private pilot filed, and flew, IFR flight plan when not instrument rated. He was advised by his flig...

Attributes
ACN	411250
Time
Date	199808
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 1m1
State Reference	AR
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 225 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	411250
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I filed and flew an IFR flight plan. My plan was from 1m1 (north little rock airport) to new (new orleans lakefront), as well as I filed and flew a return IFR plan that same evening from new to 1m1. I am a private pilot with a multi-engine rating, and currently training for my IFR certification. I filed and flew these trips for training purposes only and not with the intention of ever going into IMC conditions. At all times I kept myself in VFR conditions. My thought was, that if at any time I were in danger of losing my VFR WX that I would cancel my IFR plan and proceed to the nearest airport in VFR conditions and land. As it turned out, my entire flight was VFR so I never had the need to cancel the flight plan. Upon returning from my trip, I spoke with my instructor and told him what I had done. It was at this time I realized that I made a mistake in filing as IFR. I was unaware that I could not do this unless I had an IFR certified instructor aboard, even in VFR WX. I do not intend on filing an IFR flight plan in the future until I am so qualified and hold the proper certification. I also plan to obtain some recurrent training on pilot privileges as contained in part 61 of the far/aim.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT FILED, AND FLEW, IFR FLT PLAN WHEN NOT INST RATED. HE WAS ADVISED BY HIS FLT INSTRUCTOR AFTER THE ROUND ROBIN IFR FLT THAT IT WAS NOT LEGAL. HE BELIEVED THAT AS LONG AS HE STAYED VFR THAT HE WAS LEGAL TO FILE AND FLY UNDER AN IFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: I FILED AND FLEW AN IFR FLT PLAN. MY PLAN WAS FROM 1M1 (NORTH LITTLE ROCK ARPT) TO NEW (NEW ORLEANS LAKEFRONT), AS WELL AS I FILED AND FLEW A RETURN IFR PLAN THAT SAME EVENING FROM NEW TO 1M1. I AM A PVT PLT WITH A MULTI-ENG RATING, AND CURRENTLY TRAINING FOR MY IFR CERTIFICATION. I FILED AND FLEW THESE TRIPS FOR TRAINING PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT WITH THE INTENTION OF EVER GOING INTO IMC CONDITIONS. AT ALL TIMES I KEPT MYSELF IN VFR CONDITIONS. MY THOUGHT WAS, THAT IF AT ANY TIME I WERE IN DANGER OF LOSING MY VFR WX THAT I WOULD CANCEL MY IFR PLAN AND PROCEED TO THE NEAREST ARPT IN VFR CONDITIONS AND LAND. AS IT TURNED OUT, MY ENTIRE FLT WAS VFR SO I NEVER HAD THE NEED TO CANCEL THE FLT PLAN. UPON RETURNING FROM MY TRIP, I SPOKE WITH MY INSTRUCTOR AND TOLD HIM WHAT I HAD DONE. IT WAS AT THIS TIME I REALIZED THAT I MADE A MISTAKE IN FILING AS IFR. I WAS UNAWARE THAT I COULD NOT DO THIS UNLESS I HAD AN IFR CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR ABOARD, EVEN IN VFR WX. I DO NOT INTEND ON FILING AN IFR FLT PLAN IN THE FUTURE UNTIL I AM SO QUALIFIED AND HOLD THE PROPER CERTIFICATION. I ALSO PLAN TO OBTAIN SOME RECURRENT TRAINING ON PLT PRIVILEGES AS CONTAINED IN PART 61 OF THE FAR/AIM.

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.

Private pilot filed, and flew, IFR flight plan when not instrument rated. He was advised by his flight instructor after the round robin IFR flight that it was not legal. He believed that as long as he stayed VFR that he was legal to file and fly under an IFR flight plan.