A pilot and student pilot became IMC during a VFR training flight. Emergency declared for approach t...

Attributes
ACN	647528
Time
Date	200502
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : btl.airport
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Snow
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : azo.tracon
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : observer
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 24 flight time total : 266 flight time type : 266
ASRS Report	647528
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 195 flight time type : 185
ASRS Report	647523
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : provided flight assist flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

We were out practicing in the local area. We were called in due to deteriorating WX. We tried to do the visual approach from the south to runway 31. Since we couldn't see the airport; we departed to the south to request the VOR runway 31 into btl. On initial contact with azo approach; we declared an emergency. The controller gave us vectors for the approach. We didn't see the airport until 1.5 mi from the airport.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PLT AND STUDENT PLT BECAME IMC DURING A VFR TRAINING FLT. EMER DECLARED FOR APCH TO BTL.

Narrative: WE WERE OUT PRACTICING IN THE LOCAL AREA. WE WERE CALLED IN DUE TO DETERIORATING WX. WE TRIED TO DO THE VISUAL APCH FROM THE S TO RWY 31. SINCE WE COULDN'T SEE THE ARPT; WE DEPARTED TO THE S TO REQUEST THE VOR RWY 31 INTO BTL. ON INITIAL CONTACT WITH AZO APCH; WE DECLARED AN EMER. THE CTLR GAVE US VECTORS FOR THE APCH. WE DIDN'T SEE THE ARPT UNTIL 1.5 MI FROM THE ARPT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

A pilot and student pilot became IMC during a VFR training flight. Emergency declared for approach to btl.