Narrative:

I was on a VFR flight plan above norfolk; va; airspace heading south talking to norfolk. I checked WX before leaving and checking WX as I went along on awas and ATIS because unable to get WX on 122.0. Everything was going fine; visibility was about 10 mi; went down to 6 mi over the water in the bay. I was at 6500 ft; the ATIS ahead at norfolk said 3800 ft I decided to go under it. I asked controller if I could circle down below the ceiling. She said ok. I got down to 2000 ft and no VFR conditions towards my route. She asked me if I wanted to file an IFR clearance. I said I am IFR rated but I wanted to stay VFR. She told me to take a heading of 180 degrees. I did for as long as I could. The clouds started to increase so I turned away and told her I would be in IFR conditions if I stayed on that heading. She asked me again if I wanted to file IFR or land at norfolk. I declined and said I wanted to stay VFR. I couldn't find the bottom of the ceiling; it was like a wall of clouds ahead; so I circled up planning to turn back and land in maryland; but I found VFR conditions on top and went back on course because my destination was 12000 ft scattered and unrestr visibility. I caused the controller to divert traffic away from my area screwing up the airspace for many people. I am sorry. I did what I thought was safe at the time. I am an IFR rated pilot out of currency and my plane was due for the bi-annual radio inspection the month before. I didn't want to break the regulations; that is why I stayed VFR. I made a call to the radio shop for the plane and my next call is to my instructor to get current. This won't happen again.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A NON CURRENT IFR RATED PLT FLYING AN OUT OF IFR CURRENCY PA28 ENCOUNTERED IMC ON A VFR FLT PLAN AND REFUSED IFR SUBSEQUENTLY INTERFERING WITH IFR TFC.

Narrative: I WAS ON A VFR FLT PLAN ABOVE NORFOLK; VA; AIRSPACE HEADING S TALKING TO NORFOLK. I CHKED WX BEFORE LEAVING AND CHKING WX AS I WENT ALONG ON AWAS AND ATIS BECAUSE UNABLE TO GET WX ON 122.0. EVERYTHING WAS GOING FINE; VISIBILITY WAS ABOUT 10 MI; WENT DOWN TO 6 MI OVER THE WATER IN THE BAY. I WAS AT 6500 FT; THE ATIS AHEAD AT NORFOLK SAID 3800 FT I DECIDED TO GO UNDER IT. I ASKED CTLR IF I COULD CIRCLE DOWN BELOW THE CEILING. SHE SAID OK. I GOT DOWN TO 2000 FT AND NO VFR CONDITIONS TOWARDS MY RTE. SHE ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO FILE AN IFR CLRNC. I SAID I AM IFR RATED BUT I WANTED TO STAY VFR. SHE TOLD ME TO TAKE A HDG OF 180 DEGS. I DID FOR AS LONG AS I COULD. THE CLOUDS STARTED TO INCREASE SO I TURNED AWAY AND TOLD HER I WOULD BE IN IFR CONDITIONS IF I STAYED ON THAT HDG. SHE ASKED ME AGAIN IF I WANTED TO FILE IFR OR LAND AT NORFOLK. I DECLINED AND SAID I WANTED TO STAY VFR. I COULDN'T FIND THE BOTTOM OF THE CEILING; IT WAS LIKE A WALL OF CLOUDS AHEAD; SO I CIRCLED UP PLANNING TO TURN BACK AND LAND IN MARYLAND; BUT I FOUND VFR CONDITIONS ON TOP AND WENT BACK ON COURSE BECAUSE MY DEST WAS 12000 FT SCATTERED AND UNRESTR VISIBILITY. I CAUSED THE CTLR TO DIVERT TFC AWAY FROM MY AREA SCREWING UP THE AIRSPACE FOR MANY PEOPLE. I AM SORRY. I DID WHAT I THOUGHT WAS SAFE AT THE TIME. I AM AN IFR RATED PLT OUT OF CURRENCY AND MY PLANE WAS DUE FOR THE BI-ANNUAL RADIO INSPECTION THE MONTH BEFORE. I DIDN'T WANT TO BREAK THE REGS; THAT IS WHY I STAYED VFR. I MADE A CALL TO THE RADIO SHOP FOR THE PLANE AND MY NEXT CALL IS TO MY INSTRUCTOR TO GET CURRENT. THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

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.