Narrative:

After departure, I was climbing out at vx towards a hole in clouds with objective of cruising VFR on top for approximately 3 NM until VFR reported over livermore area. Clouds were reported scattered at 3000-3500 ft. At approximately 3200 ft, I was in the hole with sunlight and blue skies above, yet penetrated a wisp of clouds for approximately 4-6 seconds. I misjudged the base, my rate of climb and my distance to the wisp -- which I thought I would have cleared. Instead, I was in the clouds with very little visual reference for about 5 seconds. (I will never try that maneuver again!) after approximately 5 seconds, I did emerge into VFR on top, and flew for about 2 mins, then VFR for the remainder of an otherwise uneventful trip.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C182 PLT VFR IN IMC.

Narrative: AFTER DEP, I WAS CLBING OUT AT VX TOWARDS A HOLE IN CLOUDS WITH OBJECTIVE OF CRUISING VFR ON TOP FOR APPROX 3 NM UNTIL VFR RPTED OVER LIVERMORE AREA. CLOUDS WERE RPTED SCATTERED AT 3000-3500 FT. AT APPROX 3200 FT, I WAS IN THE HOLE WITH SUNLIGHT AND BLUE SKIES ABOVE, YET PENETRATED A WISP OF CLOUDS FOR APPROX 4-6 SECONDS. I MISJUDGED THE BASE, MY RATE OF CLB AND MY DISTANCE TO THE WISP -- WHICH I THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE CLRED. INSTEAD, I WAS IN THE CLOUDS WITH VERY LITTLE VISUAL REF FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. (I WILL NEVER TRY THAT MANEUVER AGAIN!) AFTER APPROX 5 SECONDS, I DID EMERGE INTO VFR ON TOP, AND FLEW FOR ABOUT 2 MINS, THEN VFR FOR THE REMAINDER OF AN OTHERWISE UNEVENTFUL TRIP.

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.