Narrative:

Forecasted ceilings for the time and date of the occurrence were much higher than actual. During climb into the altitude where clouds were expected to be 'few,' a broken layer was encountered. VFR flight was determined to be no longer possible. While executing a 180 degree turn, the PIC sought and received radar assistance from cak approach. Radar vectors were provided and the base airport was subsequently found. The PIC determined that safety could best be maintained through the chosen course of action rather than descending blindly into unknown terrain in order to clear IMC.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 TRAINING FLT ENCOUNTERS AN UNEXPECTED CLOUD DECK IN CLB. THE PIC GETS ATC ASSISTANCE AFTER THE INADVERTENT IMC IN VFR FLT.

Narrative: FORECASTED CEILINGS FOR THE TIME AND DATE OF THE OCCURRENCE WERE MUCH HIGHER THAN ACTUAL. DURING CLB INTO THE ALT WHERE CLOUDS WERE EXPECTED TO BE 'FEW,' A BROKEN LAYER WAS ENCOUNTERED. VFR FLT WAS DETERMINED TO BE NO LONGER POSSIBLE. WHILE EXECUTING A 180 DEG TURN, THE PIC SOUGHT AND RECEIVED RADAR ASSISTANCE FROM CAK APCH. RADAR VECTORS WERE PROVIDED AND THE BASE ARPT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND. THE PIC DETERMINED THAT SAFETY COULD BEST BE MAINTAINED THROUGH THE CHOSEN COURSE OF ACTION RATHER THAN DSNDING BLINDLY INTO UNKNOWN TERRAIN IN ORDER TO CLR IMC.

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.