Private pilot, flying rented C152, flying under VFR, inadvertently entered IMC.

Attributes
ACN	437312
Time
Date	199905
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : chs.vortac
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	other
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : chs.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 152
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute airway : v53.airway
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 55 flight time total : 85 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	437312
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel
Qualification	other
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : became reoriented
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On the evening of may/xa/99, I (with 1 non pilot passenger) flew from cae to 8s5 in a rented C152. Anderson FSS reported VFR for the route of flight all evening and only scattered clouds. Before departing 8s5 for the return to cae, I obtained a second standard WX briefing from anderson FSS, who reported VFR conditions and no clouds below 8000 ft MSL over charleston, sc or columbia, sc. FSS also reported scattered clouds at 6000 ft MSL between ogb and mmt. At approximately XA25 I departed 8s5 and contacted chs departure for radar services. After about 15 mins, chs terminated radar services and I proceeded on course VFR via V53 at 4500 ft MSL. Approximately 28 mins into the flight and still at 4500 ft MSL, I was engaged in flight management duties inside the cockpit when I observed low forward visibility. I turned on the landing light and observed light wispy clouds below and a sizable cloud directly in front of the aircraft. I entered the cloud and flew without visual reference to the ground for approximately 45 seconds. When I was still not clear of the cloud, I began a 500 FPM descent for about 1 min whereupon I cleared the cloud. I then made necessary navigational corrections to avoid entering other nearby clouds. After a few more mins, I climbed back to 4500 ft and continued to cae without other incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT, FLYING RENTED C152, FLYING UNDER VFR, INADVERTENTLY ENTERED IMC.

Narrative: ON THE EVENING OF MAY/XA/99, I (WITH 1 NON PLT PAX) FLEW FROM CAE TO 8S5 IN A RENTED C152. ANDERSON FSS RPTED VFR FOR THE RTE OF FLT ALL EVENING AND ONLY SCATTERED CLOUDS. BEFORE DEPARTING 8S5 FOR THE RETURN TO CAE, I OBTAINED A SECOND STANDARD WX BRIEFING FROM ANDERSON FSS, WHO RPTED VFR CONDITIONS AND NO CLOUDS BELOW 8000 FT MSL OVER CHARLESTON, SC OR COLUMBIA, SC. FSS ALSO RPTED SCATTERED CLOUDS AT 6000 FT MSL BTWN OGB AND MMT. AT APPROX XA25 I DEPARTED 8S5 AND CONTACTED CHS DEP FOR RADAR SVCS. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINS, CHS TERMINATED RADAR SVCS AND I PROCEEDED ON COURSE VFR VIA V53 AT 4500 FT MSL. APPROX 28 MINS INTO THE FLT AND STILL AT 4500 FT MSL, I WAS ENGAGED IN FLT MGMNT DUTIES INSIDE THE COCKPIT WHEN I OBSERVED LOW FORWARD VISIBILITY. I TURNED ON THE LNDG LIGHT AND OBSERVED LIGHT WISPY CLOUDS BELOW AND A SIZABLE CLOUD DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE ACFT. I ENTERED THE CLOUD AND FLEW WITHOUT VISUAL REF TO THE GND FOR APPROX 45 SECONDS. WHEN I WAS STILL NOT CLR OF THE CLOUD, I BEGAN A 500 FPM DSCNT FOR ABOUT 1 MIN WHEREUPON I CLRED THE CLOUD. I THEN MADE NECESSARY NAVIGATIONAL CORRECTIONS TO AVOID ENTERING OTHER NEARBY CLOUDS. AFTER A FEW MORE MINS, I CLBED BACK TO 4500 FT AND CONTINUED TO CAE WITHOUT OTHER INCIDENT.

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.