While on cross country trip of approximately 575 NM, VFR pilot encounters IMC.

Attributes
ACN	435925
Time
Date	199904
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : fam.vortac
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zkc.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 24 flight time total : 310 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	435925
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Qualification	controller : radar
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was en route from vpz to F44 via bpk using flight following. Flight watch WX advised that ceilings from st louis to bpk were 1800-2000 ft. Southwest of farmington, ZKC advised that I was leaving his particular area and did not think that a handoff would be able to see me because of the altitude. Several mi past this point, it appeared that the ceiling was closing down to ground level in front of me. I did a 180 degree turn and ran into clouds. Due to the elevation in the area, I climbed to 4500 ft and contacted ZKC for vectors to a VFR airport. The climb was conducted without prior clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WHILE ON XCOUNTRY TRIP OF APPROX 575 NM, VFR PLT ENCOUNTERS IMC.

Narrative: I WAS ENRTE FROM VPZ TO F44 VIA BPK USING FLT FOLLOWING. FLT WATCH WX ADVISED THAT CEILINGS FROM ST LOUIS TO BPK WERE 1800-2000 FT. SW OF FARMINGTON, ZKC ADVISED THAT I WAS LEAVING HIS PARTICULAR AREA AND DID NOT THINK THAT A HDOF WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE ME BECAUSE OF THE ALT. SEVERAL MI PAST THIS POINT, IT APPEARED THAT THE CEILING WAS CLOSING DOWN TO GND LEVEL IN FRONT OF ME. I DID A 180 DEG TURN AND RAN INTO CLOUDS. DUE TO THE ELEVATION IN THE AREA, I CLBED TO 4500 FT AND CONTACTED ZKC FOR VECTORS TO A VFR ARPT. THE CLB WAS CONDUCTED WITHOUT PRIOR CLRNC.

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.