Narrative:

Preparing for descent to landing in con. Line of clouds along lacross route would affect descent. Requested IFR clearance from bos approach and was told to expect clearance in 10 mi, the same distance between my aircraft and WX. Approaching WX, and maintaining course to con VOR, told ATC I needed clearance and was climbing to 11500 ft to maintain VMC. A new controller responded and noted that clearance would be given after learjet passed. Still climbing, I was unable to maintain required cloud clearance and requested IFR descent. I was given heading 030 degrees, and descent to 5000 ft. Complied with ATC instructions. At approximately 7000 ft regained VMC and canceled IFR. Continued VMC, closed VFR flight plan with bgr. Chain of events included: not having back up plan for no IFR clearance, slow to deviate around small line of clouds. Contributing factors: 'get homeitis,' IFR clearance, change of controllers. Corrective actions: IFR clearance complied with, better planning. I thought I would get prompt IFR clearance. I should have deviated north off course, to avoid WX while waiting for IFR clearance. Poor decision to climb above WX.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C182 SINGLE PLT ENCOUNTERED IMC AND REQUESTED AN IFR CLRNC FROM A90, BUT ENTERED THE CLOUDS BEFORE RECEIVING HIS CLRNC.

Narrative: PREPARING FOR DSCNT TO LNDG IN CON. LINE OF CLOUDS ALONG LACROSS RTE WOULD AFFECT DSCNT. REQUESTED IFR CLRNC FROM BOS APCH AND WAS TOLD TO EXPECT CLRNC IN 10 MI, THE SAME DISTANCE BTWN MY ACFT AND WX. APCHING WX, AND MAINTAINING COURSE TO CON VOR, TOLD ATC I NEEDED CLRNC AND WAS CLBING TO 11500 FT TO MAINTAIN VMC. A NEW CTLR RESPONDED AND NOTED THAT CLRNC WOULD BE GIVEN AFTER LEARJET PASSED. STILL CLBING, I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN REQUIRED CLOUD CLRNC AND REQUESTED IFR DSCNT. I WAS GIVEN HDG 030 DEGS, AND DSCNT TO 5000 FT. COMPLIED WITH ATC INSTRUCTIONS. AT APPROX 7000 FT REGAINED VMC AND CANCELED IFR. CONTINUED VMC, CLOSED VFR FLT PLAN WITH BGR. CHAIN OF EVENTS INCLUDED: NOT HAVING BACK UP PLAN FOR NO IFR CLRNC, SLOW TO DEVIATE AROUND SMALL LINE OF CLOUDS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: 'GET HOMEITIS,' IFR CLRNC, CHANGE OF CTLRS. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: IFR CLRNC COMPLIED WITH, BETTER PLANNING. I THOUGHT I WOULD GET PROMPT IFR CLRNC. I SHOULD HAVE DEVIATED N OFF COURSE, TO AVOID WX WHILE WAITING FOR IFR CLRNC. POOR DECISION TO CLB ABOVE WX.

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.