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A C180H CFI runs into lowering visibility and enacts an IMC in VFR flight incident 55 mi northwest of grr, mi.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 518804 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200107 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : grr.vor |
| State Reference | MI |
| Altitude | msl single value : 4500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | Marginal |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : grr.tracon tracon : n90.tracon |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Cessna 180 Skywagon |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | other vortac |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 42 flight time total : 1228 flight time type : 1225.3 |
| ASRS Report | 518804 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | controller : approach flight crew : second officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : exited adverse environment none taken : insufficient time |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Weather Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
I was flying VFR at the cruising altitude of 4500 ft MSL heading 280 degrees when I approached WX in my path. As I was well established between cloud layers, and receiving radar advisories from grand rapids, I chose to continue flight over the broken cloud layer and continue what appeared to be adequate cloud clrncs. I was notified by ATC of precipitation along my course, but due to flight conditions at the time chose to maintain my heading and altitude. Shortly after entering the area of precipitation, I determined the flight visibility and cloud clrncs to be below that of class east requirements. I immediately turned to a heading (330 degrees) that provided a clear view of the clouds surrounding me, and descended to 2500 ft MSL so as to remain beneath any other cloud layers. I feel that as a CFI and current instrument pilot, I became overly comfortable flying in an environment of limited visibility, especially while receiving radar advisories. Compounding that, I should have realized that the precipitation would begin to 'close the gap' that I was flying in. In the future, I need to use my aviation knowledge and experience to remain clear of potential visual obstructions, or file IFR for those flts that may seem marginal. This was surely a good lesson learned, and one that I will pass on to all my students.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A C180H CFI RUNS INTO LOWERING VISIBILITY AND ENACTS AN IMC IN VFR FLT INCIDENT 55 MI NW OF GRR, MI.
Narrative: I WAS FLYING VFR AT THE CRUISING ALT OF 4500 FT MSL HDG 280 DEGS WHEN I APCHED WX IN MY PATH. AS I WAS WELL ESTABLISHED BTWN CLOUD LAYERS, AND RECEIVING RADAR ADVISORIES FROM GRAND RAPIDS, I CHOSE TO CONTINUE FLT OVER THE BROKEN CLOUD LAYER AND CONTINUE WHAT APPEARED TO BE ADEQUATE CLOUD CLRNCS. I WAS NOTIFIED BY ATC OF PRECIP ALONG MY COURSE, BUT DUE TO FLT CONDITIONS AT THE TIME CHOSE TO MAINTAIN MY HDG AND ALT. SHORTLY AFTER ENTERING THE AREA OF PRECIP, I DETERMINED THE FLT VISIBILITY AND CLOUD CLRNCS TO BE BELOW THAT OF CLASS E REQUIREMENTS. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED TO A HDG (330 DEGS) THAT PROVIDED A CLR VIEW OF THE CLOUDS SURROUNDING ME, AND DSNDED TO 2500 FT MSL SO AS TO REMAIN BENEATH ANY OTHER CLOUD LAYERS. I FEEL THAT AS A CFI AND CURRENT INST PLT, I BECAME OVERLY COMFORTABLE FLYING IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF LIMITED VISIBILITY, ESPECIALLY WHILE RECEIVING RADAR ADVISORIES. COMPOUNDING THAT, I SHOULD HAVE REALIZED THAT THE PRECIP WOULD BEGIN TO 'CLOSE THE GAP' THAT I WAS FLYING IN. IN THE FUTURE, I NEED TO USE MY AVIATION KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO REMAIN CLR OF POTENTIAL VISUAL OBSTRUCTIONS, OR FILE IFR FOR THOSE FLTS THAT MAY SEEM MARGINAL. THIS WAS SURELY A GOOD LESSON LEARNED, AND ONE THAT I WILL PASS ON TO ALL MY STUDENTS.
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.