Narrative:

On apr/xa/99 at approximately XB00 hours, I took off from (20GA) stockmar airport. I received a WX briefing at approximately XA00 hours which indicated VMC from 20GA to 30A (meadowlake airport) in kingston, tn. After takeoff, I found the ceiling to be considerably lower than expected and reported. Being unfamiliar with the local terrain, I elected to climb into IMC to a higher and safer altitude. After doing so, I went to 121.5 frequency and advised ZTL of my situation and asked for assistance. I was directed to switch to another frequency and was assigned a squawk code. I was then instructed to climb to 7500 ft for an on top VFR condition. During the climb, I advised center to find me a VFR condition airport to land at as soon as possible. I also advised center of my original destination and they said they would check to see if VMC existed. I found VFR at 9000 ft where I leveled off and waited for further instructions. I proceeded on course to my destination of kingston, tn. Center advised me of VMC in huntsville, al, and knoxville, tn. They also existed at 30A. With the help of center, I elected to proceed to 30A which was as close or closer than other VMC locations. I was handed off to knoxville approach who in turn directed me to 30A where once again I momentarily entered IMC during the descent. When the airport was in sight, I terminated radar service and landed.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: STUDENT PLT OF PIPER 180 LIVES THROUGH 2 IMC ENCOUNTERS DURING FLT TO 30A.

Narrative: ON APR/XA/99 AT APPROX XB00 HRS, I TOOK OFF FROM (20GA) STOCKMAR ARPT. I RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING AT APPROX XA00 HRS WHICH INDICATED VMC FROM 20GA TO 30A (MEADOWLAKE ARPT) IN KINGSTON, TN. AFTER TKOF, I FOUND THE CEILING TO BE CONSIDERABLY LOWER THAN EXPECTED AND RPTED. BEING UNFAMILIAR WITH THE LCL TERRAIN, I ELECTED TO CLB INTO IMC TO A HIGHER AND SAFER ALT. AFTER DOING SO, I WENT TO 121.5 FREQ AND ADVISED ZTL OF MY SIT AND ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE. I WAS DIRECTED TO SWITCH TO ANOTHER FREQ AND WAS ASSIGNED A SQUAWK CODE. I WAS THEN INSTRUCTED TO CLB TO 7500 FT FOR AN ON TOP VFR CONDITION. DURING THE CLB, I ADVISED CTR TO FIND ME A VFR CONDITION ARPT TO LAND AT ASAP. I ALSO ADVISED CTR OF MY ORIGINAL DEST AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD CHK TO SEE IF VMC EXISTED. I FOUND VFR AT 9000 FT WHERE I LEVELED OFF AND WAITED FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. I PROCEEDED ON COURSE TO MY DEST OF KINGSTON, TN. CTR ADVISED ME OF VMC IN HUNTSVILLE, AL, AND KNOXVILLE, TN. THEY ALSO EXISTED AT 30A. WITH THE HELP OF CTR, I ELECTED TO PROCEED TO 30A WHICH WAS AS CLOSE OR CLOSER THAN OTHER VMC LOCATIONS. I WAS HANDED OFF TO KNOXVILLE APCH WHO IN TURN DIRECTED ME TO 30A WHERE ONCE AGAIN I MOMENTARILY ENTERED IMC DURING THE DSCNT. WHEN THE ARPT WAS IN SIGHT, I TERMINATED RADAR SVC AND LANDED.

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.