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Pilot of a maule M5 inadvertently flew into overcast when attempting to climb VFR through what appeared to be a break in the overcast.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 450052 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199909 |
| Day | Sun |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : cos.airport |
| State Reference | CO |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 10000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : cos.tracon |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | M-5 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | other |
| Flight Phase | cruise : enroute altitude change |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 90 flight time total : 1440 flight time type : 685 |
| ASRS Report | 450052 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : exited adverse environment |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
I approached an overcast layer and climbed above it. Another overcast layer was above. I was not sure the 2 layers would converge ahead. The upper layer appeared broken at times to reveal an apparent additional overcast layer (third) above the second. I decided to climb through a break in the second layer. Light conditions were very bright, and led me to believe the second and third layers were thin in spots. I lost visual reference in the second layer. Light conditions were brightening, but I was using instruments to remain in control. I decided that my best chance was to continue climbing above the second layer, given the brightening light conditions. After 1-2 mins I was not on top and decided to execute a 180 degree turn and descend. I broke out beneath the bottom layer, having never experienced the gap between the first and second layers. The IFR training I received during my commercial pilot rating training in the early 90's saved my life. I would highly recommend that the private pilot rating curriculum include this extended training experienced during the commercial pilot training. However, I've always had a difficult time judging the size and horizontal distance from clouds (unless I'm very close to them).
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF A MAULE M5 INADVERTENTLY FLEW INTO OVCST WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLB VFR THROUGH WHAT APPEARED TO BE A BREAK IN THE OVCST.
Narrative: I APCHED AN OVCST LAYER AND CLBED ABOVE IT. ANOTHER OVCST LAYER WAS ABOVE. I WAS NOT SURE THE 2 LAYERS WOULD CONVERGE AHEAD. THE UPPER LAYER APPEARED BROKEN AT TIMES TO REVEAL AN APPARENT ADDITIONAL OVCST LAYER (THIRD) ABOVE THE SECOND. I DECIDED TO CLB THROUGH A BREAK IN THE SECOND LAYER. LIGHT CONDITIONS WERE VERY BRIGHT, AND LED ME TO BELIEVE THE SECOND AND THIRD LAYERS WERE THIN IN SPOTS. I LOST VISUAL REF IN THE SECOND LAYER. LIGHT CONDITIONS WERE BRIGHTENING, BUT I WAS USING INSTS TO REMAIN IN CTL. I DECIDED THAT MY BEST CHANCE WAS TO CONTINUE CLBING ABOVE THE SECOND LAYER, GIVEN THE BRIGHTENING LIGHT CONDITIONS. AFTER 1-2 MINS I WAS NOT ON TOP AND DECIDED TO EXECUTE A 180 DEG TURN AND DSND. I BROKE OUT BENEATH THE BOTTOM LAYER, HAVING NEVER EXPERIENCED THE GAP BTWN THE FIRST AND SECOND LAYERS. THE IFR TRAINING I RECEIVED DURING MY COMMERCIAL PLT RATING TRAINING IN THE EARLY 90'S SAVED MY LIFE. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT THE PVT PLT RATING CURRICULUM INCLUDE THIS EXTENDED TRAINING EXPERIENCED DURING THE COMMERCIAL PLT TRAINING. HOWEVER, I'VE ALWAYS HAD A DIFFICULT TIME JUDGING THE SIZE AND HORIZ DISTANCE FROM CLOUDS (UNLESS I'M VERY CLOSE TO THEM).
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.