VFR in IMC. Pilot of a beech C90 flew into the overcast at 300 ft AGL during a VFR climb after takeo...

Attributes
ACN	481871
Time
Date	200008
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : oar.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl single value : 300
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	King Air C90 E90
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure : vfr
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 1160 flight time type : 35
ASRS Report	481871
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Trying to depart marina airport on aug/xa/00 in a king air A90 VFR only aircraft at XA30, I delayed the departure until AC10 due to low clouds/fog on the departure end of runway 29. The WX, however, was clear from midfield eastward. Nonetheless, a downwind departure was not acceptable. The WX improved to the northwest of the runway where a right downwind departure is authority/authorized. However, upon departing, I found myself getting into the low clouds on my downwind leg, where I decided to level the wings and climb above the clouds (approximately 4 seconds of IMC). At the time, this option was better than to lower the nose and remain clear of clouds per far regulation, and possibly jeopardize the safety of the flight by CFIT. Thus, I climbed out. In retrospect, I should have delayed my departure even further. However, pressure to conduct the flight, albeit hidden, was presently felt within me. A very good friend wanted to perform the flight as soon as possible, but in no way wanted to break the regulations. A short time later, it showed improvements, so I opted to accept the flight only to find second thoughts at the runway, but I continued.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR IN IMC. PLT OF A BEECH C90 FLEW INTO THE OVCST AT 300 FT AGL DURING A VFR CLB AFTER TKOF ON THE DOWNWIND LEG AT AN UNCTLED ARPT.

Narrative: TRYING TO DEPART MARINA ARPT ON AUG/XA/00 IN A KING AIR A90 VFR ONLY ACFT AT XA30, I DELAYED THE DEP UNTIL AC10 DUE TO LOW CLOUDS/FOG ON THE DEP END OF RWY 29. THE WX, HOWEVER, WAS CLR FROM MIDFIELD EASTWARD. NONETHELESS, A DOWNWIND DEP WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE WX IMPROVED TO THE NW OF THE RWY WHERE A R DOWNWIND DEP IS AUTH. HOWEVER, UPON DEPARTING, I FOUND MYSELF GETTING INTO THE LOW CLOUDS ON MY DOWNWIND LEG, WHERE I DECIDED TO LEVEL THE WINGS AND CLB ABOVE THE CLOUDS (APPROX 4 SECONDS OF IMC). AT THE TIME, THIS OPTION WAS BETTER THAN TO LOWER THE NOSE AND REMAIN CLR OF CLOUDS PER FAR REG, AND POSSIBLY JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF THE FLT BY CFIT. THUS, I CLBED OUT. IN RETROSPECT, I SHOULD HAVE DELAYED MY DEP EVEN FURTHER. HOWEVER, PRESSURE TO CONDUCT THE FLT, ALBEIT HIDDEN, WAS PRESENTLY FELT WITHIN ME. A VERY GOOD FRIEND WANTED TO PERFORM THE FLT ASAP, BUT IN NO WAY WANTED TO BREAK THE REGS. A SHORT TIME LATER, IT SHOWED IMPROVEMENTS, SO I OPTED TO ACCEPT THE FLT ONLY TO FIND SECOND THOUGHTS AT THE RWY, BUT I CONTINUED.

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.

VFR in IMC. Pilot of a beech C90 flew into the overcast at 300 ft AGL during a VFR climb after takeoff on the downwind leg at an uncontrolled airport.