PA28 pilot flew VFR in IMC in ZME class east airspace.

Attributes
ACN	495220
Time
Date	200012
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rnc.airport
State Reference	TN
Altitude	agl single value : 1900
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	other
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : vacating altitude
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 91 flight time total : 376 flight time type : 376
ASRS Report	495220
Person 2
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed rnc in VFR conditions intending to get my clearance from ZME once airborne. At about 1000 ft AGL, I contacted center and asked for my clearance. Instead of leveling off until I received my full clearance, I made the mistake of continuing the climb. It took longer to get the clearance than I anticipated and my climb rate was good due to cold WX. Before I realized it, I was in the cloud layer. The cloud layer was only about 500 ft thick and I quickly broke out to sunny VFR on top. This was the point at which I finished receiving and reading back the clearance. I realize that I made a mistake in not remaining VFR until I had my IFR clearance. In the future, I will try first to get my clearance on the ground. If I cannot do this, then I will take off and level off at a safe altitude and remain VFR until I have my clearance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT FLEW VFR IN IMC IN ZME CLASS E AIRSPACE.

Narrative: I DEPARTED RNC IN VFR CONDITIONS INTENDING TO GET MY CLRNC FROM ZME ONCE AIRBORNE. AT ABOUT 1000 FT AGL, I CONTACTED CTR AND ASKED FOR MY CLRNC. INSTEAD OF LEVELING OFF UNTIL I RECEIVED MY FULL CLRNC, I MADE THE MISTAKE OF CONTINUING THE CLB. IT TOOK LONGER TO GET THE CLRNC THAN I ANTICIPATED AND MY CLB RATE WAS GOOD DUE TO COLD WX. BEFORE I REALIZED IT, I WAS IN THE CLOUD LAYER. THE CLOUD LAYER WAS ONLY ABOUT 500 FT THICK AND I QUICKLY BROKE OUT TO SUNNY VFR ON TOP. THIS WAS THE POINT AT WHICH I FINISHED RECEIVING AND READING BACK THE CLRNC. I REALIZE THAT I MADE A MISTAKE IN NOT REMAINING VFR UNTIL I HAD MY IFR CLRNC. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL TRY FIRST TO GET MY CLRNC ON THE GND. IF I CANNOT DO THIS, THEN I WILL TAKE OFF AND LEVEL OFF AT A SAFE ALT AND REMAIN VFR UNTIL I HAVE MY CLRNC.

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.