A C206 pilot VFR in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	524392
Time
Date	200109
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : owa.airport
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl single value : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp.artcc tracon : cvg.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna Stationair/Turbo Stationair 6
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 52 flight time total : 490 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	524392
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

This report describes the conditions for the 9TH skydiving load flown over the owatonna airport on sep/sun/2001. Takeoff was approximately XA00 pm local time. Reported conditions at the time of takeoff were winds 280 at 6, 10 mi visibility, bases of scattered layer 4200 AGL. The load had 5 skydivers and the pilot aboard and fuel for 2 hours of normal flight. 11500 MSL was requested for the jump altitude, but because of the incoming WX only 8000 MSL was reached. At the time of the jump run the ceiling was reported 7500 AGL (8600 MSL) broken, and scattered below. Minneapolis center was informed of the change in plans and during the first attempted jump run, no 'hole' in the scattered layer was available over the 'drop zone.' while circling for a second pass the aircraft entered IMC, for less than 10 seconds but more than 5 seconds. On the second pass the drop zone was easily visible and the skydivers conducted their jump. All jumpers landed within the confines of the drop zone and the pilot landed the plane safely. Possible contributing factors to the incident, fatigue leading to poor judgement. Also the pilot flew the previous load to 12000 MSL so mild hypoxia may have been a contributing factor as well.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C206 PLT VFR IN IMC.

Narrative: THIS RPT DESCRIBES THE CONDITIONS FOR THE 9TH SKYDIVING LOAD FLOWN OVER THE OWATONNA ARPT ON SEP/SUN/2001. TKOF WAS APPROX XA00 PM LOCAL TIME. RPTED CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF TKOF WERE WINDS 280 AT 6, 10 MI VIS, BASES OF SCATTERED LAYER 4200 AGL. THE LOAD HAD 5 SKYDIVERS AND THE PLT ABOARD AND FUEL FOR 2 HRS OF NORMAL FLT. 11500 MSL WAS REQUESTED FOR THE JUMP ALTITUDE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE INCOMING WX ONLY 8000 MSL WAS REACHED. AT THE TIME OF THE JUMP RUN THE CEILING WAS RPTED 7500 AGL (8600 MSL) BROKEN, AND SCATTERED BELOW. MINNEAPOLIS CENTER WAS INFORMED OF THE CHANGE IN PLANS AND DURING THE FIRST ATTEMPTED JUMP RUN, NO 'HOLE' IN THE SCATTERED LAYER WAS AVAILABLE OVER THE 'DROP ZONE.' WHILE CIRCLING FOR A SECOND PASS THE ACFT ENTERED IMC, FOR LESS THAN 10 SECS BUT MORE THAN 5 SECS. ON THE SECOND PASS THE DROP ZONE WAS EASILY VISIBLE AND THE SKYDIVERS CONDUCTED THEIR JUMP. ALL JUMPERS LANDED WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE DROP ZONE AND THE PLT LANDED THE PLANE SAFELY. POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE INCIDENT, FATIGUE LEADING TO POOR JUDGEMENT. ALSO THE PLT FLEW THE PREVIOUS LOAD TO 12000 MSL SO MILD HYPOXIA MAY HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR AS WELL.

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.