Narrative:

Problem: entered IMC without IFR clearance. How problem arose: departed sqi airport in VMC with destination of mli for practice instrument approachs, then to return to sqi when completed. Intention was to pick up IFR clearance en route (none previously filed) and remain IFR until landing at sqi. This procedure has been done numerous times before with no problems. When approximately 31 mi from mli, I called quad city approach control with position and requested IFR clearance for practice approachs at mli, stipulating the exact approachs and the manner and sequence that I wished to fly them. The controller responded with squawk code and told me to maintain 3000 ft and maintain VFR. I acknowledged this. Subsequently the controller called and informed me of radar identify and on the call (to the best of my recollection), told me to proceed direct oscos intersection as I had requested the IAF for the GPS 31 approach. This I did. However, while proceeding to oscos, I entered IMC. Somewhat after this, I was asked by controller if I was still in VFR conditions, and I replied no, that I had just recently entered IMC. He proceeded to tell me that I did not have a clearance to be in IMC, that he had told me earlier to maintain VFR. I stated that I nevertheless at that time was in IMC and asked what he wanted me to do -- climb to VFR conditions or remain where I was ? After a little butt chewing, I was told to stay at 3000 ft. I then specifically inquired if I then had an IFR clearance to proceed, and he said yes. From then on, all went well. I have no qualms with the controller or what he said. I feel that I was in the wrong by not maintaining VFR as directed. To my own defense, however, I had assumed that I had the IFR clearance when he told me to go to oscas. Bad assumption! After the practice approachs at mli and during my return to sqi, the same controller and I talked about my confusion earlier. Very nice guy and helpful in his comments. In summary, I have learned a good lesson and assuredly will not get into the same situation again. I consider myself a very careful and particularly conscientious pilot, but a humbling event like this will now increase my level of conscientiousness.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: M-20P PLT AND APCH CTLR DID NOT MAKE CLR WHETHER PLT HAD AN IFR CLRNC OR NOT.

Narrative: PROB: ENTERED IMC WITHOUT IFR CLRNC. HOW PROB AROSE: DEPARTED SQI ARPT IN VMC WITH DEST OF MLI FOR PRACTICE INST APCHS, THEN TO RETURN TO SQI WHEN COMPLETED. INTENTION WAS TO PICK UP IFR CLRNC ENRTE (NONE PREVIOUSLY FILED) AND REMAIN IFR UNTIL LNDG AT SQI. THIS PROC HAS BEEN DONE NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE WITH NO PROBS. WHEN APPROX 31 MI FROM MLI, I CALLED QUAD CITY APCH CTL WITH POS AND REQUESTED IFR CLRNC FOR PRACTICE APCHS AT MLI, STIPULATING THE EXACT APCHS AND THE MANNER AND SEQUENCE THAT I WISHED TO FLY THEM. THE CTLR RESPONDED WITH SQUAWK CODE AND TOLD ME TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT AND MAINTAIN VFR. I ACKNOWLEDGED THIS. SUBSEQUENTLY THE CTLR CALLED AND INFORMED ME OF RADAR IDENT AND ON THE CALL (TO THE BEST OF MY RECOLLECTION), TOLD ME TO PROCEED DIRECT OSCOS INTXN AS I HAD REQUESTED THE IAF FOR THE GPS 31 APCH. THIS I DID. HOWEVER, WHILE PROCEEDING TO OSCOS, I ENTERED IMC. SOMEWHAT AFTER THIS, I WAS ASKED BY CTLR IF I WAS STILL IN VFR CONDITIONS, AND I REPLIED NO, THAT I HAD JUST RECENTLY ENTERED IMC. HE PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT I DID NOT HAVE A CLRNC TO BE IN IMC, THAT HE HAD TOLD ME EARLIER TO MAINTAIN VFR. I STATED THAT I NEVERTHELESS AT THAT TIME WAS IN IMC AND ASKED WHAT HE WANTED ME TO DO -- CLB TO VFR CONDITIONS OR REMAIN WHERE I WAS ? AFTER A LITTLE BUTT CHEWING, I WAS TOLD TO STAY AT 3000 FT. I THEN SPECIFICALLY INQUIRED IF I THEN HAD AN IFR CLRNC TO PROCEED, AND HE SAID YES. FROM THEN ON, ALL WENT WELL. I HAVE NO QUALMS WITH THE CTLR OR WHAT HE SAID. I FEEL THAT I WAS IN THE WRONG BY NOT MAINTAINING VFR AS DIRECTED. TO MY OWN DEFENSE, HOWEVER, I HAD ASSUMED THAT I HAD THE IFR CLRNC WHEN HE TOLD ME TO GO TO OSCAS. BAD ASSUMPTION! AFTER THE PRACTICE APCHS AT MLI AND DURING MY RETURN TO SQI, THE SAME CTLR AND I TALKED ABOUT MY CONFUSION EARLIER. VERY NICE GUY AND HELPFUL IN HIS COMMENTS. IN SUMMARY, I HAVE LEARNED A GOOD LESSON AND ASSUREDLY WILL NOT GET INTO THE SAME SIT AGAIN. I CONSIDER MYSELF A VERY CAREFUL AND PARTICULARLY CONSCIENTIOUS PLT, BUT A HUMBLING EVENT LIKE THIS WILL NOW INCREASE MY LEVEL OF CONSCIENTIOUSNESS.

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.