Narrative:

When I took off; the WX was clear at the departure airport. I forgot the exact ceilings to the north of the airport; but they were high enough for me to fly under without concern. Shortly after takeoff; I realized the clouds weren't as high as previously thought and the ceilings eventually came down. To stay at least 500 ft below the clouds; I compromised the minimum safe altitude of 1000 ft above the highest obstacle over a congested area. I'm a new pilot with a traffic watch company and wanted to make a good impression. I know now that my minimums are higher than what the conditions were that day. I also know to turn around and not risk it.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A TFC WATCH C172 PLT ENCOUNTERED A LOW CEILING AND REMAINED AT 500 FT BELOW THE CLOUDS BUT NOT 1000 FT ABOVE OBSTACLES.

Narrative: WHEN I TOOK OFF; THE WX WAS CLR AT THE DEP ARPT. I FORGOT THE EXACT CEILINGS TO THE N OF THE ARPT; BUT THEY WERE HIGH ENOUGH FOR ME TO FLY UNDER WITHOUT CONCERN. SHORTLY AFTER TKOF; I REALIZED THE CLOUDS WEREN'T AS HIGH AS PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT AND THE CEILINGS EVENTUALLY CAME DOWN. TO STAY AT LEAST 500 FT BELOW THE CLOUDS; I COMPROMISED THE MINIMUM SAFE ALT OF 1000 FT ABOVE THE HIGHEST OBSTACLE OVER A CONGESTED AREA. I'M A NEW PLT WITH A TFC WATCH COMPANY AND WANTED TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION. I KNOW NOW THAT MY MINIMUMS ARE HIGHER THAN WHAT THE CONDITIONS WERE THAT DAY. I ALSO KNOW TO TURN AROUND AND NOT RISK IT.

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.