Narrative:

I am a VFR pilot who inadvertently went into IMC. Wst and gon were reporting VMC; visibility was 6 mi and haze; wind was 150 at approximately 6 to 8 KTS; sky conditions were clear. Looking up; the sun was visible through the haze; no clouds were visible. I departed wst runway 14. Before reaching 1000 ft MSL; everything went white: could not see the ground; water; or anything around me. I continued to climb and began my turn north. I broke out above the layer at approximately 1500 ft MSL during my turn north. I listened to ATIS at gon then reported the code to tower. Tower said ATIS was changing and they were now IFR. I contacted pvd approach asking for assistance to an airport in VMC; I was at 3000 ft. Pvd approach suggested listening to ASOS at wst; it was still VMC. I stayed with approach until less than 3 mi and approximately 900 ft MSL when I spotted wst. I landed straight in on runway 14 without incident. Contributing factors: I did not get a full WX brief due to the short distance (11 NM) between wst and gon; and both reported VMC. Human performance: when I entered IMC; I continued to climb as I made my 180 degree turn because I could no longer see obstacles; planes; etc. I chose to contact pvd approach so they would know my situation and so they could keep me clear of traffic I could not see. I chose a straight-in landing at wst; runway 14 because I thought entering the pattern would again place me in IMC.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PRIVATE PLT DEPARTS WST IN HAZY CONDITIONS AND ENCOUNTERS IMC DURING CLB OUT.

Narrative: I AM A VFR PLT WHO INADVERTENTLY WENT INTO IMC. WST AND GON WERE RPTING VMC; VISIBILITY WAS 6 MI AND HAZE; WIND WAS 150 AT APPROX 6 TO 8 KTS; SKY CONDITIONS WERE CLR. LOOKING UP; THE SUN WAS VISIBLE THROUGH THE HAZE; NO CLOUDS WERE VISIBLE. I DEPARTED WST RWY 14. BEFORE REACHING 1000 FT MSL; EVERYTHING WENT WHITE: COULD NOT SEE THE GND; WATER; OR ANYTHING AROUND ME. I CONTINUED TO CLB AND BEGAN MY TURN N. I BROKE OUT ABOVE THE LAYER AT APPROX 1500 FT MSL DURING MY TURN N. I LISTENED TO ATIS AT GON THEN RPTED THE CODE TO TWR. TWR SAID ATIS WAS CHANGING AND THEY WERE NOW IFR. I CONTACTED PVD APCH ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE TO AN ARPT IN VMC; I WAS AT 3000 FT. PVD APCH SUGGESTED LISTENING TO ASOS AT WST; IT WAS STILL VMC. I STAYED WITH APCH UNTIL LESS THAN 3 MI AND APPROX 900 FT MSL WHEN I SPOTTED WST. I LANDED STRAIGHT IN ON RWY 14 WITHOUT INCIDENT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: I DID NOT GET A FULL WX BRIEF DUE TO THE SHORT DISTANCE (11 NM) BETWEEN WST AND GON; AND BOTH RPTED VMC. HUMAN PERFORMANCE: WHEN I ENTERED IMC; I CONTINUED TO CLB AS I MADE MY 180 DEG TURN BECAUSE I COULD NO LONGER SEE OBSTACLES; PLANES; ETC. I CHOSE TO CONTACT PVD APCH SO THEY WOULD KNOW MY SIT AND SO THEY COULD KEEP ME CLR OF TFC I COULD NOT SEE. I CHOSE A STRAIGHT-IN LNDG AT WST; RWY 14 BECAUSE I THOUGHT ENTERING THE PATTERN WOULD AGAIN PLACE ME IN IMC.

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.