A C182 pilot 'VFR' in 'IMC.'

Attributes
ACN	540030
Time
Date	200203
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fhr.airport
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl single value : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Snow
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zzz.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	Other
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 6 flight time total : 11036.8 flight time type : 1645.8
ASRS Report	540030
Person 2
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Miss Distance	horizontal : 0 vertical : 800
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed anacortes airport for friday harbor airport 15 mi away. WX at anacortes was: visibility approximately 10 mi and ceiling approximately 2800 ft. Friday harbor ASOS was reporting 6 mi visibility and ceiling 2800 ft. Approximately 6 mi from friday harbor I encountered a snow squall which put visibility down to about 1.5 mi. I delayed my '180' for about 20 seconds, then started my turn. During this time I saw another airplane about 800 ft above me. After about 90 degrees of the turn visibility improved and I was able to continue the flight to friday harbor. After parking, a pilot came to my aircraft and said approach had called and advised that they had to vector an IFR aircraft around me. I should have made an immediate '180.' my 59+ yrs of flying had made me complacent. This incident served as a strong lesson and a rude awakening.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C182 PLT 'VFR' IN 'IMC.'

Narrative: DEPARTED ANACORTES ARPT FOR FRIDAY HARBOR ARPT 15 MI AWAY. WX AT ANACORTES WAS: VISIBILITY APPROX 10 MI AND CEILING APPROX 2800 FT. FRIDAY HARBOR ASOS WAS RPTING 6 MI VISIBILITY AND CEILING 2800 FT. APPROX 6 MI FROM FRIDAY HARBOR I ENCOUNTERED A SNOW SQUALL WHICH PUT VISIBILITY DOWN TO ABOUT 1.5 MI. I DELAYED MY '180' FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS, THEN STARTED MY TURN. DURING THIS TIME I SAW ANOTHER AIRPLANE ABOUT 800 FT ABOVE ME. AFTER ABOUT 90 DEGS OF THE TURN VISIBILITY IMPROVED AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE THE FLT TO FRIDAY HARBOR. AFTER PARKING, A PLT CAME TO MY ACFT AND SAID APCH HAD CALLED AND ADVISED THAT THEY HAD TO VECTOR AN IFR ACFT AROUND ME. I SHOULD HAVE MADE AN IMMEDIATE '180.' MY 59+ YRS OF FLYING HAD MADE ME COMPLACENT. THIS INCIDENT SERVED AS A STRONG LESSON AND A RUDE AWAKENING.

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.