Narrative:

I departed VFR from sus to cgi. I obtained 'flight following' from stl approach upon departing sus class D airspace. Stl approach gave me a 'climb to 4000 ft' (I believe at pilot's discretion), and a recommendation of a southeasterly heading. 25-30 mi south of sus, I saw an opportunity to take a more southeasterly heading through a sufficiently wide break in the clouds. Moments later, visibility dropped to zero. I immediately told stl approach that I was in IMC. The controller asked if the plane and I were certified IFR. I told him that the plane was certified, but I was not. The controller said he was going to 'consider this an emergency.' the controller asked me to make a 'wings level' descent to 3000 ft. I acknowledged and complied. The controller asked me to turn to a heading of north. I acknowledged and complied. The controller asked me to verify heading and that I was in VMC. I acknowledged a heading of 360 degrees and was in VMC. The time in IMC seemed to have lasted approximately 3-4 mins. I maintained VFR and in communication with stl approach for the duration of the flight back to sus. Stl approach handed me off to sus tower for the approach and landing at sus.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ON AN APPARENT STL CLASS B CLRNC FROM SUS, C172 PLT INITIATES A TURN THAT QUICKLY RESULTS IN IMC. T75 CTLR PROVIDES FLT ASSIST AND PLT RETURNS TO POINT OF DEP.

Narrative: I DEPARTED VFR FROM SUS TO CGI. I OBTAINED 'FLT FOLLOWING' FROM STL APCH UPON DEPARTING SUS CLASS D AIRSPACE. STL APCH GAVE ME A 'CLB TO 4000 FT' (I BELIEVE AT PLT'S DISCRETION), AND A RECOMMENDATION OF A SOUTHEASTERLY HDG. 25-30 MI S OF SUS, I SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A MORE SOUTHEASTERLY HDG THROUGH A SUFFICIENTLY WIDE BREAK IN THE CLOUDS. MOMENTS LATER, VISIBILITY DROPPED TO ZERO. I IMMEDIATELY TOLD STL APCH THAT I WAS IN IMC. THE CTLR ASKED IF THE PLANE AND I WERE CERTIFIED IFR. I TOLD HIM THAT THE PLANE WAS CERTIFIED, BUT I WAS NOT. THE CTLR SAID HE WAS GOING TO 'CONSIDER THIS AN EMER.' THE CTLR ASKED ME TO MAKE A 'WINGS LEVEL' DSCNT TO 3000 FT. I ACKNOWLEDGED AND COMPLIED. THE CTLR ASKED ME TO TURN TO A HDG OF N. I ACKNOWLEDGED AND COMPLIED. THE CTLR ASKED ME TO VERIFY HDG AND THAT I WAS IN VMC. I ACKNOWLEDGED A HDG OF 360 DEGS AND WAS IN VMC. THE TIME IN IMC SEEMED TO HAVE LASTED APPROX 3-4 MINS. I MAINTAINED VFR AND IN COM WITH STL APCH FOR THE DURATION OF THE FLT BACK TO SUS. STL APCH HANDED ME OFF TO SUS TWR FOR THE APCH AND LNDG AT SUS.

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.