C206 pilot flies into IMC before receiving IFR clearance in ZOA airspace.

Attributes
ACN	427548
Time
Date	199902
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : eca airport : q68
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 3000 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	427548
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Consequence	faa : investigated
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Filed IFR flight plan with rancho murietta FSS (groveland Q68 to palo alto pao). Departed VFR from Q68 (altitude 3000 ft). At approximately 4000 ft, called ZOA for clearance. ZOA has always (in the past) been able to see my transponder at 4000 ft. Normal sequence is to depart and call for clearance at 3500-4000 ft. ZOA told me they were not receiving my transponder and to remain VFR. They told me another aircraft was IFR into columbia (an airport approximately 15 mi away) and that they had lost radar contact with that airplane. At this time I told ZOA I was IMC as I was in and out of the clouds. ZOA then asked me for DME and radial to manteca VOR. I told them 40 DME and 250 degree radial. At this time he told me he ha D radar contact and proceeded to give me my clearance to palo alto. The flight continued normally terminating in a VOR DME approach to pao. I can't remember if it was oakland or stockton approach that gave me the telephone number of the ZOA manager and told me to call upon landing. I did, and he said he was going to file a report and took all the pertinent information. I apologized for the incident, and told him I would call for clearance on the telephone before departing in the future.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C206 PLT FLIES INTO IMC BEFORE RECEIVING IFR CLRNC IN ZOA AIRSPACE.

Narrative: FILED IFR FLT PLAN WITH RANCHO MURIETTA FSS (GROVELAND Q68 TO PALO ALTO PAO). DEPARTED VFR FROM Q68 (ALT 3000 FT). AT APPROX 4000 FT, CALLED ZOA FOR CLRNC. ZOA HAS ALWAYS (IN THE PAST) BEEN ABLE TO SEE MY XPONDER AT 4000 FT. NORMAL SEQUENCE IS TO DEPART AND CALL FOR CLRNC AT 3500-4000 FT. ZOA TOLD ME THEY WERE NOT RECEIVING MY XPONDER AND TO REMAIN VFR. THEY TOLD ME ANOTHER ACFT WAS IFR INTO COLUMBIA (AN ARPT APPROX 15 MI AWAY) AND THAT THEY HAD LOST RADAR CONTACT WITH THAT AIRPLANE. AT THIS TIME I TOLD ZOA I WAS IMC AS I WAS IN AND OUT OF THE CLOUDS. ZOA THEN ASKED ME FOR DME AND RADIAL TO MANTECA VOR. I TOLD THEM 40 DME AND 250 DEG RADIAL. AT THIS TIME HE TOLD ME HE HA D RADAR CONTACT AND PROCEEDED TO GIVE ME MY CLRNC TO PALO ALTO. THE FLT CONTINUED NORMALLY TERMINATING IN A VOR DME APCH TO PAO. I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS OAKLAND OR STOCKTON APCH THAT GAVE ME THE TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE ZOA MGR AND TOLD ME TO CALL UPON LNDG. I DID, AND HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO FILE A RPT AND TOOK ALL THE PERTINENT INFO. I APOLOGIZED FOR THE INCIDENT, AND TOLD HIM I WOULD CALL FOR CLRNC ON THE TELEPHONE BEFORE DEPARTING IN THE FUTURE.

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.