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PA44 pilot, on an instrument flight plan, and in IMC conditions, broke out of the clouds and climbed to stay VFR without clearance in ZSE class east.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 585182 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200306 |
| Day | Wed |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : eka.airport |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Weather Elements | other |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zse.artcc |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | PA-44 Seminole Turbo Seminole |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : initial climbout : intermediate altitude |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zse.artcc |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : private pilot : multi engine |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 32 flight time total : 620 flight time type : 293 |
| ASRS Report | 585182 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued alert |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Weather Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Released for departure, IFR climb to 4000 ft, direct fot, then V-27 direct cec. IMC between 800 ft and 4000 ft MSL. At 4000 ft MSL, skirting VMC on top, attempted to get VFR on top clearance. Radio too busy with student/IFR departures out of acv. Noticed I was at 4200 ft MSL, but in VMC conditions. Was at 4500 ft when ZSE contacted me to inform me of improper altitude. I was currently in VMC, turning northbound, other VFR on top traffic over fot in sight. Problem arose secondary to increased radio traffic, chatty IFR training pilot, busy IMC area. Problem discovered by both ZSE and myself, the pilot. No evasive corrective action needed on pilot's part. Poor judgement, decision making on my part to reach VMC rather than stay at 4000 ft as assigned, in IMC. Other factors include relatively low pilot time. Having arrived at eka 30-45 mins prior, I knew where VMC existed. I was aware other IFR training aircraft over fot in VMC, but should have stayed at 4000 ft awaiting further communication and clearance.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PA44 PLT, ON AN INST FLT PLAN, AND IN IMC CONDITIONS, BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS AND CLBED TO STAY VFR WITHOUT CLRNC IN ZSE CLASS E.
Narrative: RELEASED FOR DEP, IFR CLB TO 4000 FT, DIRECT FOT, THEN V-27 DIRECT CEC. IMC BTWN 800 FT AND 4000 FT MSL. AT 4000 FT MSL, SKIRTING VMC ON TOP, ATTEMPTED TO GET VFR ON TOP CLRNC. RADIO TOO BUSY WITH STUDENT/IFR DEPS OUT OF ACV. NOTICED I WAS AT 4200 FT MSL, BUT IN VMC CONDITIONS. WAS AT 4500 FT WHEN ZSE CONTACTED ME TO INFORM ME OF IMPROPER ALT. I WAS CURRENTLY IN VMC, TURNING NBOUND, OTHER VFR ON TOP TFC OVER FOT IN SIGHT. PROB AROSE SECONDARY TO INCREASED RADIO TFC, CHATTY IFR TRAINING PLT, BUSY IMC AREA. PROB DISCOVERED BY BOTH ZSE AND MYSELF, THE PLT. NO EVASIVE CORRECTIVE ACTION NEEDED ON PLT'S PART. POOR JUDGEMENT, DECISION MAKING ON MY PART TO REACH VMC RATHER THAN STAY AT 4000 FT AS ASSIGNED, IN IMC. OTHER FACTORS INCLUDE RELATIVELY LOW PLT TIME. HAVING ARRIVED AT EKA 30-45 MINS PRIOR, I KNEW WHERE VMC EXISTED. I WAS AWARE OTHER IFR TRAINING ACFT OVER FOT IN VMC, BUT SHOULD HAVE STAYED AT 4000 FT AWAITING FURTHER COM AND CLRNC.
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.