Aeronca pilot flew into IMC conditions departing rdg.

Attributes
ACN	583905
Time
Date	200306
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rdg.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain Fog
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rdg.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Aeronca Champion
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : vfr
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1650 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	583905
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : flight data
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : provided flight assist flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance FAA Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I called WX brief and to williamsport FSS for an update brief, having spoken to them several times earlier that day, for a flight VFR from rdg to MD42 departing with 1.5 ete. I was told that the sky conditions were 2500 ft scattered, broken, and 7000 ft overcast. Winds southeast at 4 KTS along my route with light rain 20 mi southwest of rdg at lns. Visibility 5 mi haze. I departed runway 31 with a left turn on course, and was directed to contact departure. I was in contact with only primary radar contact and climbing at 1500 ft for 2000 ft when I saw clouds pass immediately below me. As I was approaching rising terrain (a ridge), I immediately executed a 90 degree banked descending left turn to maintain ground contact, ending 180 degree opposite course at about 600 ft AGL. I contacted approach and advised them of my situation, and requested an immediate return to rdg. After circling in position for several mins, I was vectored to right downwind for runway 13 and landed uneventfully. FSS WX briefing was completely erroneous. I consider this incident to be just one more example of an inadequate and dangerous WX reporting system maintained by the FAA. In my emergency descending turn, I was probably less than 400 ft AGL over the ridge. Had I been in a less maneuverable or heavier aircraft, I may have impacted the terrain. It was necessary for me to violate several regulations, including 91.119(B), 91.303(a)(C)(east)(F) and 91.307(C). I believe I had no choice. I wish to commend the staff controllers at rdg approach and tower. Their action, attitude, and instructions were exemplary. Their professionalism and assistance made a bad situation much easier on me. P.south. On departure, while talking to regulation departure, several aircraft were trying to return at the same time. Simultaneous xmissions were made, making their job more difficult. Through it all, they got everyone sorted out and handled a confusing situation well.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AERONCA PLT FLEW INTO IMC CONDITIONS DEPARTING RDG.

Narrative: I CALLED WX BRIEF AND TO WILLIAMSPORT FSS FOR AN UPDATE BRIEF, HAVING SPOKEN TO THEM SEVERAL TIMES EARLIER THAT DAY, FOR A FLT VFR FROM RDG TO MD42 DEPARTING WITH 1.5 ETE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SKY CONDITIONS WERE 2500 FT SCATTERED, BROKEN, AND 7000 FT OVCST. WINDS SE AT 4 KTS ALONG MY RTE WITH LIGHT RAIN 20 MI SW OF RDG AT LNS. VISIBILITY 5 MI HAZE. I DEPARTED RWY 31 WITH A L TURN ON COURSE, AND WAS DIRECTED TO CONTACT DEP. I WAS IN CONTACT WITH ONLY PRIMARY RADAR CONTACT AND CLBING AT 1500 FT FOR 2000 FT WHEN I SAW CLOUDS PASS IMMEDIATELY BELOW ME. AS I WAS APCHING RISING TERRAIN (A RIDGE), I IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED A 90 DEG BANKED DSNDING L TURN TO MAINTAIN GND CONTACT, ENDING 180 DEG OPPOSITE COURSE AT ABOUT 600 FT AGL. I CONTACTED APCH AND ADVISED THEM OF MY SIT, AND REQUESTED AN IMMEDIATE RETURN TO RDG. AFTER CIRCLING IN POS FOR SEVERAL MINS, I WAS VECTORED TO R DOWNWIND FOR RWY 13 AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. FSS WX BRIEFING WAS COMPLETELY ERRONEOUS. I CONSIDER THIS INCIDENT TO BE JUST ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF AN INADEQUATE AND DANGEROUS WX RPTING SYS MAINTAINED BY THE FAA. IN MY EMER DSNDING TURN, I WAS PROBABLY LESS THAN 400 FT AGL OVER THE RIDGE. HAD I BEEN IN A LESS MANEUVERABLE OR HEAVIER ACFT, I MAY HAVE IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. IT WAS NECESSARY FOR ME TO VIOLATE SEVERAL REGS, INCLUDING 91.119(B), 91.303(A)(C)(E)(F) AND 91.307(C). I BELIEVE I HAD NO CHOICE. I WISH TO COMMEND THE STAFF CTLRS AT RDG APCH AND TWR. THEIR ACTION, ATTITUDE, AND INSTRUCTIONS WERE EXEMPLARY. THEIR PROFESSIONALISM AND ASSISTANCE MADE A BAD SIT MUCH EASIER ON ME. P.S. ON DEP, WHILE TALKING TO REG DEP, SEVERAL ACFT WERE TRYING TO RETURN AT THE SAME TIME. SIMULTANEOUS XMISSIONS WERE MADE, MAKING THEIR JOB MORE DIFFICULT. THROUGH IT ALL, THEY GOT EVERYONE SORTED OUT AND HANDLED A CONFUSING SIT 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.