Narrative:

1 hour before the flight, I called the local FSS for a preflight WX and NOTAM briefing, as I always do. The WX briefer reported 4 mi visibility in mist with a broken layer at 1500 ft. The briefer also reported, however, that the WX was likely to improve within the hour, and that I could expect cloud layers 1700-2300 ft, along the route of flight. A few mins before departure, I called back the FSS for more accurate information. The different briefer reported a 300 ft overcast layer. I decided to fly an alternate route to avoid the IFR WX. Acting on the predication of the previous briefer, that WX had and would continue to improve, I decided to take off. After takeoff, I encountered an 1800 ft cloud layer, and decided to continue on, looking for a break in the clouds. I also contacted approach for VFR flight following, after which I was instructed to maintain 1700 ft VFR. When I asked for any WX reports, the controller reported back with PIREPS indicating IFR WX. The controller also reported a 300 ft cloud layer. I continued along the route looking for a break in the clouds, after which I decided to turn back. Flying in and out of clouds and struggling to maintain VFR, I returned, while a malfunctioning ELT and momentary loss of radar contact added to the tension of the situation. I landed in VFR visibility. Understanding my mistake to take off in MVFR conditions, I have decided to raise my personal WX minimums to well above MVFR conditions, even if a briefer predicts an improvement in the WX, in order to prevent this situation from ever happening again.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A LOW TIME PLT DEPARTED MVFR FOR A FLT THROUGH AREAS OF FORECAST DECREASED CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES. HE RETURNED TO HIS DEP ARPT.

Narrative: 1 HR BEFORE THE FLT, I CALLED THE LCL FSS FOR A PREFLT WX AND NOTAM BRIEFING, AS I ALWAYS DO. THE WX BRIEFER RPTED 4 MI VISIBILITY IN MIST WITH A BROKEN LAYER AT 1500 FT. THE BRIEFER ALSO RPTED, HOWEVER, THAT THE WX WAS LIKELY TO IMPROVE WITHIN THE HR, AND THAT I COULD EXPECT CLOUD LAYERS 1700-2300 FT, ALONG THE RTE OF FLT. A FEW MINS BEFORE DEP, I CALLED BACK THE FSS FOR MORE ACCURATE INFO. THE DIFFERENT BRIEFER RPTED A 300 FT OVCST LAYER. I DECIDED TO FLY AN ALTERNATE RTE TO AVOID THE IFR WX. ACTING ON THE PREDICATION OF THE PREVIOUS BRIEFER, THAT WX HAD AND WOULD CONTINUE TO IMPROVE, I DECIDED TO TAKE OFF. AFTER TKOF, I ENCOUNTERED AN 1800 FT CLOUD LAYER, AND DECIDED TO CONTINUE ON, LOOKING FOR A BREAK IN THE CLOUDS. I ALSO CONTACTED APCH FOR VFR FLT FOLLOWING, AFTER WHICH I WAS INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN 1700 FT VFR. WHEN I ASKED FOR ANY WX RPTS, THE CTLR RPTED BACK WITH PIREPS INDICATING IFR WX. THE CTLR ALSO RPTED A 300 FT CLOUD LAYER. I CONTINUED ALONG THE RTE LOOKING FOR A BREAK IN THE CLOUDS, AFTER WHICH I DECIDED TO TURN BACK. FLYING IN AND OUT OF CLOUDS AND STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN VFR, I RETURNED, WHILE A MALFUNCTIONING ELT AND MOMENTARY LOSS OF RADAR CONTACT ADDED TO THE TENSION OF THE SIT. I LANDED IN VFR VISIBILITY. UNDERSTANDING MY MISTAKE TO TAKE OFF IN MVFR CONDITIONS, I HAVE DECIDED TO RAISE MY PERSONAL WX MINIMUMS TO WELL ABOVE MVFR CONDITIONS, EVEN IF A BRIEFER PREDICTS AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE WX, IN ORDER TO PREVENT THIS SIT FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN.

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.