A caravan 208B single pilot, flying VFR in IMC, narrowly escaped a CFIT incident near nome, ak.

Attributes
ACN	598534
Time
Date	200311
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : ome.vortac
State Reference	AK
Altitude	msl single value : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Fog Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Caravan 1 208A
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change cruise : level
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 1453 flight time total : 1633 flight time type : 915.9
ASRS Report	598534
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : took evasive action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I departed white mountain for nome. Departure WX was VFR. Nome had been IFR, although the WX was steadily improving. About 30 DME from the nome VOR, I began a descent from 4500 ft MSL, at 500 FPM, in an attempt to get under the WX, arresting the descent at 500 ft MSL. Between 12-14 DME from the nome VOR, level at 500 ft MSL, I was scanning outside for terrain features while attempting to keep ahead of my instrument scan. During that period, I made visual contact with the terrain. Glancing at the radar altimeter, indicated 300 ft AGL, and decreasing quickly. I immediately pitched the aircraft up, added full power, executed a climbing 180 degree turn to 3500 ft MSL and returned to VFR conditions in white mountain, where I landed safely.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CARAVAN 208B SINGLE PLT, FLYING VFR IN IMC, NARROWLY ESCAPED A CFIT INCIDENT NEAR NOME, AK.

Narrative: I DEPARTED WHITE MOUNTAIN FOR NOME. DEP WX WAS VFR. NOME HAD BEEN IFR, ALTHOUGH THE WX WAS STEADILY IMPROVING. ABOUT 30 DME FROM THE NOME VOR, I BEGAN A DSCNT FROM 4500 FT MSL, AT 500 FPM, IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET UNDER THE WX, ARRESTING THE DSCNT AT 500 FT MSL. BTWN 12-14 DME FROM THE NOME VOR, LEVEL AT 500 FT MSL, I WAS SCANNING OUTSIDE FOR TERRAIN FEATURES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO KEEP AHEAD OF MY INST SCAN. DURING THAT PERIOD, I MADE VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE TERRAIN. GLANCING AT THE RADAR ALTIMETER, INDICATED 300 FT AGL, AND DECREASING QUICKLY. I IMMEDIATELY PITCHED THE ACFT UP, ADDED FULL PWR, EXECUTED A CLBING 180 DEG TURN TO 3500 FT MSL AND RETURNED TO VFR CONDITIONS IN WHITE MOUNTAIN, WHERE I LANDED SAFELY.

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.