A sukhoi-31 ATP pilot enters the rose hill MOA, IMC in VFR flight, when unable to contact dhn approa...

Attributes
ACN	451785
Time
Date	199910
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dhn.airport
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1800 msl bound upper : 7500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Other
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change cruise : descent cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 30000 flight time type : 110
ASRS Report	451785
Events
Anomaly	airspace violation : entry inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited penetrated airspace none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Environmental Factor Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed selma, al. The WX was 1900 ft broken, 6 mi of visibility. Flying a sukhoi-31 to south florida. Takeoff was about AM40Z. As I progressed to 15 NM west of troy airport WX started to lower. Dothan's last home report was 700 ft overcast 2 mi visibility. As I approached 290 degree from dothan airport the WX dropped to 400 ft AGL and visibility to 2 NM. The overcast showed breaks above and had been tops at 2000 ft in selma. I was 5 NM east of carl folsom airport when I went IMC on a 170 degree track to climb on top. Due to the cockpit workload in this type of aircraft I was unable to contact dothan approach. I maintained about a 160 degree track until I broke out on top. I stayed VMC and climbed up to approximately 7000 ft to get around some of the clouds. This was approximately 15 NM northwest of genavo, al. At 15-20 NM east of genavo I was able to descend through the scattered/broken deck to cruise VMC below the deck at 2000 ft MSL with 6 mi visibility. Due to the fact I was in an unstable aircraft I was unable to use the radio and change frequencys and contact dothan approach or center. The times referred to above are approximately. Mode C was on at all times.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A SUKHOI-31 ATP PLT ENTERS THE ROSE HILL MOA, IMC IN VFR FLT, WHEN UNABLE TO CONTACT DHN APCH CTLR FOR CLRNC. RPTR CITES INSTABILITY OF THIS ACROBATIC ACFT AS REASON FOR BEING NORAC TFC.

Narrative: I DEPARTED SELMA, AL. THE WX WAS 1900 FT BROKEN, 6 MI OF VISIBILITY. FLYING A SUKHOI-31 TO SOUTH FLORIDA. TKOF WAS ABOUT AM40Z. AS I PROGRESSED TO 15 NM W OF TROY ARPT WX STARTED TO LOWER. DOTHAN'S LAST HOME RPT WAS 700 FT OVCST 2 MI VISIBILITY. AS I APCHED 290 DEG FROM DOTHAN ARPT THE WX DROPPED TO 400 FT AGL AND VISIBILITY TO 2 NM. THE OVCST SHOWED BREAKS ABOVE AND HAD BEEN TOPS AT 2000 FT IN SELMA. I WAS 5 NM E OF CARL FOLSOM ARPT WHEN I WENT IMC ON A 170 DEG TRACK TO CLB ON TOP. DUE TO THE COCKPIT WORKLOAD IN THIS TYPE OF ACFT I WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT DOTHAN APCH. I MAINTAINED ABOUT A 160 DEG TRACK UNTIL I BROKE OUT ON TOP. I STAYED VMC AND CLBED UP TO APPROX 7000 FT TO GET AROUND SOME OF THE CLOUDS. THIS WAS APPROX 15 NM NW OF GENAVO, AL. AT 15-20 NM E OF GENAVO I WAS ABLE TO DSND THROUGH THE SCATTERED/BROKEN DECK TO CRUISE VMC BELOW THE DECK AT 2000 FT MSL WITH 6 MI VISIBILITY. DUE TO THE FACT I WAS IN AN UNSTABLE ACFT I WAS UNABLE TO USE THE RADIO AND CHANGE FREQS AND CONTACT DOTHAN APCH OR CTR. THE TIMES REFERRED TO ABOVE ARE APPROX. MODE C WAS ON AT ALL TIMES.

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.

A sukhoi-31 ATP pilot enters the rose hill MOA, IMC in VFR flight, when unable to contact dhn approach controller for clearance. Reporter cites instability of this acrobatic aircraft as reason for being NORAC traffic.