An SA226 private pilot climbs into the clouds departure cgx while on a VFR flight plan.

Attributes
ACN	438776
Time
Date	199905
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cgx.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1900 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Special VFR
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : cgx.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	SA-226 TC Metro II
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : vfr
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 55 flight time total : 4300 flight time type : 160
ASRS Report	438776
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Cleared 2000 ft, SVFR departing runway 36, left turnout to the west. Takeoff rotation, left turn to west seeing tall buildings, entered cloud deck. Increased climb IMC and climbed to 2500 ft before leveling off. Turned 240 degrees, dropped to 2000 ft, call midway 119.45 and dropped to 1900 ft. Conditions now clear of clouds. VFR continued flight to dkb. I should have turned right to east and flown over the field at 2000 ft, 270 degrees to destination.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SA226 PVT PLT CLBS INTO THE CLOUDS DEP CGX WHILE ON A VFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: CLRED 2000 FT, SVFR DEPARTING RWY 36, L TURNOUT TO THE W. TKOF ROTATION, L TURN TO W SEEING TALL BUILDINGS, ENTERED CLOUD DECK. INCREASED CLB IMC AND CLBED TO 2500 FT BEFORE LEVELING OFF. TURNED 240 DEGS, DROPPED TO 2000 FT, CALL MIDWAY 119.45 AND DROPPED TO 1900 FT. CONDITIONS NOW CLR OF CLOUDS. VFR CONTINUED FLT TO DKB. I SHOULD HAVE TURNED R TO E AND FLOWN OVER THE FIELD AT 2000 FT, 270 DEGS TO DEST.

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.