Non instrument rated navion pilot encounters IMC en route to destination in oak airspace.

Attributes
ACN	417742
Time
Date	199810
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sql
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 800 msl bound upper : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Navion
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 53 flight time total : 430 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	417742
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

The san carlos ATIS reported scattered at 800 ft, haze, broken at 10000 ft. I took off and crossed the bay coastline on 060 degree heading. I stayed below the clouds at 800 ft and turned towards san mateo bridge because it looked clear in that direction. At about 2 mi from bridge, the haze became clouds (fog?). I was in IMC. I started a descent and a 180 degree turn back to airport. At 400 ft, I had not broken out, so I leveled off, counted to 10, then began a 500 FPM climb. (I am not instrument rated.) I broke out on top at 1200 ft. I didn't know my position. I flew 060 degree, 090 degree, and 180 degree headings. I tuned up GPS on lvk. When it locked on, I flew toward lvk until the undercast was gone. I had flown to within 5 mi of sjc (I could see planes coming up through undercast) before I turned toward lvk.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NON INST RATED NAVION PLT ENCOUNTERS IMC ENRTE TO DEST IN OAK AIRSPACE.

Narrative: THE SAN CARLOS ATIS RPTED SCATTERED AT 800 FT, HAZE, BROKEN AT 10000 FT. I TOOK OFF AND CROSSED THE BAY COASTLINE ON 060 DEG HDG. I STAYED BELOW THE CLOUDS AT 800 FT AND TURNED TOWARDS SAN MATEO BRIDGE BECAUSE IT LOOKED CLR IN THAT DIRECTION. AT ABOUT 2 MI FROM BRIDGE, THE HAZE BECAME CLOUDS (FOG?). I WAS IN IMC. I STARTED A DSCNT AND A 180 DEG TURN BACK TO ARPT. AT 400 FT, I HAD NOT BROKEN OUT, SO I LEVELED OFF, COUNTED TO 10, THEN BEGAN A 500 FPM CLB. (I AM NOT INST RATED.) I BROKE OUT ON TOP AT 1200 FT. I DIDN'T KNOW MY POS. I FLEW 060 DEG, 090 DEG, AND 180 DEG HDGS. I TUNED UP GPS ON LVK. WHEN IT LOCKED ON, I FLEW TOWARD LVK UNTIL THE UNDERCAST WAS GONE. I HAD FLOWN TO WITHIN 5 MI OF SJC (I COULD SEE PLANES COMING UP THROUGH UNDERCAST) BEFORE I TURNED TOWARD LVK.

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.