Narrative:

Forecasts and conditions were indicating 10000 ft ceilings and 10 mi of visibility. About 50 mi from my destination the ceiling and visibility were decreasing. A descent to 2500 ft MSL was required to keep in MVFR conditions, and the conditions were continuing to deteriorate quickly despite current ASOS/ATIS/AWOS reports in the area of 10000 ft or clear skies and 10 mi visibility. Receiving radar advisories from new york, I heard another VFR aircraft have similar issues and request an immediate IFR clearance. After attempting a 180 degree turn and finding no escape I followed suit and requested an IFR clearance as well, received one in less than 1 min and completed the VOR-a approach at my destination. Conditions were 0/0 in patchy areas with no more than 2 mi of visibility and 1500 ft ceilings in general. While I could have maintained VFR occasionally, I felt it was safer to file. I am currently working on my instrument rating, thus I am not yet rated, and have about 20 yrs actual plus simulated instrument time. Looking at the WX in hindsight, the conditions were not forecast and appeared to originate unexpectedly. I should have landed at the nearest airport when I could no longer safely maintain 2000 ft AGL and visibility began to degrade. My performance was hindered by flying from the right seat, as a student pilot (a partner in the aircraft) was in the left.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NON INST RATED C172 PLT FLIES IFR AND EXECUTES AN INST APCH TO DEST ARPT AFTER ENCOUNTERING DETERIORATING WX CONDITIONS.

Narrative: FORECASTS AND CONDITIONS WERE INDICATING 10000 FT CEILINGS AND 10 MI OF VISIBILITY. ABOUT 50 MI FROM MY DEST THE CEILING AND VISIBILITY WERE DECREASING. A DSCNT TO 2500 FT MSL WAS REQUIRED TO KEEP IN MVFR CONDITIONS, AND THE CONDITIONS WERE CONTINUING TO DETERIORATE QUICKLY DESPITE CURRENT ASOS/ATIS/AWOS RPTS IN THE AREA OF 10000 FT OR CLR SKIES AND 10 MI VISIBILITY. RECEIVING RADAR ADVISORIES FROM NEW YORK, I HEARD ANOTHER VFR ACFT HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES AND REQUEST AN IMMEDIATE IFR CLRNC. AFTER ATTEMPTING A 180 DEG TURN AND FINDING NO ESCAPE I FOLLOWED SUIT AND REQUESTED AN IFR CLRNC AS WELL, RECEIVED ONE IN LESS THAN 1 MIN AND COMPLETED THE VOR-A APCH AT MY DEST. CONDITIONS WERE 0/0 IN PATCHY AREAS WITH NO MORE THAN 2 MI OF VISIBILITY AND 1500 FT CEILINGS IN GENERAL. WHILE I COULD HAVE MAINTAINED VFR OCCASIONALLY, I FELT IT WAS SAFER TO FILE. I AM CURRENTLY WORKING ON MY INST RATING, THUS I AM NOT YET RATED, AND HAVE ABOUT 20 YRS ACTUAL PLUS SIMULATED INST TIME. LOOKING AT THE WX IN HINDSIGHT, THE CONDITIONS WERE NOT FORECAST AND APPEARED TO ORIGINATE UNEXPECTEDLY. I SHOULD HAVE LANDED AT THE NEAREST ARPT WHEN I COULD NO LONGER SAFELY MAINTAIN 2000 FT AGL AND VISIBILITY BEGAN TO DEGRADE. MY PERFORMANCE WAS HINDERED BY FLYING FROM THE R SEAT, AS A STUDENT PLT (A PARTNER IN THE ACFT) WAS IN THE L.

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.