A C182 pilot flew into IMC departing rnm without a clearance.

Attributes
ACN	450017
Time
Date	199909
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 3300
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cvg.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure : vfr
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 1500 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	450017
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed ramona (rnm) in MVFR. Expected to shortly be above haze to unlimited VFR. Instead, entered into a marine layer on outer edge of airport during climb out. Ceiling approximately 600 ft AGL, tops approximately 3300 ft MSL. Action taken: followed rnm IFR departure procedure, believing this to be the safest course of action since I was now IMC. Climbed to 4500 ft MSL. VFR conditions. Judgement: I used poor judgement and did not use all the safety possible for myself or passenger. Earlier call to FSS should have again been verified (no marine layer forecasted till early morning). Marine layer was on outer edge of airport. But some visible moisture was present. MVFR at night (not too smart) on my judgement. Prevention: if in doubt about visibility, especially at night, pre-file IFR, check FSS on en route conditions, use all available safety given and required. A simple IFR flight plan would have given full communications and radar safety. My family and passenger deserve all safety possible.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C182 PLT FLEW INTO IMC DEPARTING RNM WITHOUT A CLRNC.

Narrative: DEPARTED RAMONA (RNM) IN MVFR. EXPECTED TO SHORTLY BE ABOVE HAZE TO UNLIMITED VFR. INSTEAD, ENTERED INTO A MARINE LAYER ON OUTER EDGE OF ARPT DURING CLBOUT. CEILING APPROX 600 FT AGL, TOPS APPROX 3300 FT MSL. ACTION TAKEN: FOLLOWED RNM IFR DEP PROC, BELIEVING THIS TO BE THE SAFEST COURSE OF ACTION SINCE I WAS NOW IMC. CLBED TO 4500 FT MSL. VFR CONDITIONS. JUDGEMENT: I USED POOR JUDGEMENT AND DID NOT USE ALL THE SAFETY POSSIBLE FOR MYSELF OR PAX. EARLIER CALL TO FSS SHOULD HAVE AGAIN BEEN VERIFIED (NO MARINE LAYER FORECASTED TILL EARLY MORNING). MARINE LAYER WAS ON OUTER EDGE OF ARPT. BUT SOME VISIBLE MOISTURE WAS PRESENT. MVFR AT NIGHT (NOT TOO SMART) ON MY JUDGEMENT. PREVENTION: IF IN DOUBT ABOUT VISIBILITY, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, PRE-FILE IFR, CHK FSS ON ENRTE CONDITIONS, USE ALL AVAILABLE SAFETY GIVEN AND REQUIRED. A SIMPLE IFR FLT PLAN WOULD HAVE GIVEN FULL COMS AND RADAR SAFETY. MY FAMILY AND PAX DESERVE ALL SAFETY POSSIBLE.

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.