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A navion pilot flew into IMC while trying to climb over WX. Laf TRACON issued an IFR clearance and heading to clear WX.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 438650 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199905 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : laf.airport |
| State Reference | LA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 6500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Mixed |
| Weather Elements | Rain Thunderstorm Turbulence |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : huf.tracon |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Rangemaster (Navion) |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Route In Use | enroute other |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 560 flight time type : 275 |
| ASRS Report | 438650 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : turbulence inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Near lafayette saw tops which I guessed were at 6500 ft. Asked laf approach for climb which they granted. Appeared that we would clear tops when we were immersed in turbulent IMC. It took me about 15-30 seconds to 'trust' my instruments and regain my instrument scanning skills. In that period of time we had climbed 1000 ft and had gone from a 290 degree heading to 240 degree (deeper into IMC). I confessed to approach that I was in IMC. He asked if I wanted an IFR clearance which I did. He basically cleared me for a more wnw course and I was back in VMC with 3-5 mi. We landed at laf regional because FSS said WX was worse west of lafayette. Although I received a brief and had looked at radar in slidell, I should have realized that WX can change radically in an hour. Getting flight following was just a bandage. There was another plane trying to do the same and I think the thought that there was another who did not feel the risk made more comfortable than normal. I feel like if laf approach had cleared me to 6500 ft that it would have been much easier to get 'on top.' failing that, in retrospect I realize I should have done a 180 degree when I became unsure whether I would clear.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A NAVION PLT FLEW INTO IMC WHILE TRYING TO CLB OVER WX. LAF TRACON ISSUED AN IFR CLRNC AND HEADING TO CLR WX.
Narrative: NEAR LAFAYETTE SAW TOPS WHICH I GUESSED WERE AT 6500 FT. ASKED LAF APCH FOR CLB WHICH THEY GRANTED. APPEARED THAT WE WOULD CLR TOPS WHEN WE WERE IMMERSED IN TURBULENT IMC. IT TOOK ME ABOUT 15-30 SECONDS TO 'TRUST' MY INSTS AND REGAIN MY INST SCANNING SKILLS. IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME WE HAD CLBED 1000 FT AND HAD GONE FROM A 290 DEG HDG TO 240 DEG (DEEPER INTO IMC). I CONFESSED TO APCH THAT I WAS IN IMC. HE ASKED IF I WANTED AN IFR CLRNC WHICH I DID. HE BASICALLY CLRED ME FOR A MORE WNW COURSE AND I WAS BACK IN VMC WITH 3-5 MI. WE LANDED AT LAF REGIONAL BECAUSE FSS SAID WX WAS WORSE W OF LAFAYETTE. ALTHOUGH I RECEIVED A BRIEF AND HAD LOOKED AT RADAR IN SLIDELL, I SHOULD HAVE REALIZED THAT WX CAN CHANGE RADICALLY IN AN HR. GETTING FLT FOLLOWING WAS JUST A BANDAGE. THERE WAS ANOTHER PLANE TRYING TO DO THE SAME AND I THINK THE THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER WHO DID NOT FEEL THE RISK MADE MORE COMFORTABLE THAN NORMAL. I FEEL LIKE IF LAF APCH HAD CLRED ME TO 6500 FT THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH EASIER TO GET 'ON TOP.' FAILING THAT, IN RETROSPECT I REALIZE I SHOULD HAVE DONE A 180 DEG WHEN I BECAME UNSURE WHETHER I WOULD CLR.
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.