L29 pilot takes off into marginal VFR conditions, diverts due to WX, and is ramp checked by an FAA safety inspector who did not agree with the decision to take off.

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Attributes
ACN	620352
Time
Date	200406
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cae.airport
State Reference	SC
Altitude	msl single value : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cae.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Military Trainer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 2700 flight time type : 240
ASRS Report	620352
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather
Independent Detector	other other : 3
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather FAA
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On a VFR flight plan, I decided that I would not be able to maintain VMC. I decided to file an IFR flight plan, but after further consideration, decided to abort and divert. During conversation with approach, I was asked what my fuel state was. I reported 35 mins when actually I had over 1 hour of fuel on board. Controller declared an emergency for me. Once safely on the ground, I was ramp checked by the FAA. Safety inspector thought my decision to divert was a good one, but did not like my decision to launch due to WX telling me that VFR flight was not recommended.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: L29 PLT TAKES OFF INTO MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS, DIVERTS DUE TO WX, AND IS RAMP CHKED BY AN FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR WHO DID NOT AGREE WITH THE DECISION TO TAKE OFF.

Narrative: ON A VFR FLT PLAN, I DECIDED THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN VMC. I DECIDED TO FILE AN IFR FLT PLAN, BUT AFTER FURTHER CONSIDERATION, DECIDED TO ABORT AND DIVERT. DURING CONVERSATION WITH APCH, I WAS ASKED WHAT MY FUEL STATE WAS. I RPTED 35 MINS WHEN ACTUALLY I HAD OVER 1 HR OF FUEL ON BOARD. CTLR DECLARED AN EMER FOR ME. ONCE SAFELY ON THE GND, I WAS RAMP CHKED BY THE FAA. SAFETY INSPECTOR THOUGHT MY DECISION TO DIVERT WAS A GOOD ONE, BUT DID NOT LIKE MY DECISION TO LAUNCH DUE TO WX TELLING ME THAT VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED.

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.