Lancair 2 pilot enters IMC while flying VFR.

Attributes
ACN	701466
Time
Date	200606
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : cec.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl single value : 5 msl single value : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zse.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Experimental
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level ground : maintenance
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zse.artcc
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 1350 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	701466
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : separated traffic controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I had made my way out to the coast when I encountered mist and lowered ceilings. I decided to land at crescent city which was the closest airport at that time. I looked down to get the radio frequencys for crescent city from my flight guide. When I glanced up; I had entered a cloud. I was tempted to descend a little to see if I could see the beach but decided it would be safer to climb. I entered a climb and continued to climb to 6500 ft without breaking out. I contacted ZLC on frequency and advised them of my situation. There was another aircraft that had departed crescent city and received vectors around me. I was given a transponder code and continued northbound. The clouds broke up about 25 mi south of north bend; or (oth). I descended in VFR conditions and landed to spend the night at north bend. After landing; I contacted the ATC supervisor and discussed the situation and how it could be avoided in the future.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LANCAIR 2 PLT ENTERS IMC WHILE FLYING VFR.

Narrative: I HAD MADE MY WAY OUT TO THE COAST WHEN I ENCOUNTERED MIST AND LOWERED CEILINGS. I DECIDED TO LAND AT CRESCENT CITY WHICH WAS THE CLOSEST ARPT AT THAT TIME. I LOOKED DOWN TO GET THE RADIO FREQS FOR CRESCENT CITY FROM MY FLT GUIDE. WHEN I GLANCED UP; I HAD ENTERED A CLOUD. I WAS TEMPTED TO DSND A LITTLE TO SEE IF I COULD SEE THE BEACH BUT DECIDED IT WOULD BE SAFER TO CLB. I ENTERED A CLB AND CONTINUED TO CLB TO 6500 FT WITHOUT BREAKING OUT. I CONTACTED ZLC ON FREQ AND ADVISED THEM OF MY SIT. THERE WAS ANOTHER ACFT THAT HAD DEPARTED CRESCENT CITY AND RECEIVED VECTORS AROUND ME. I WAS GIVEN A XPONDER CODE AND CONTINUED NBOUND. THE CLOUDS BROKE UP ABOUT 25 MI S OF NORTH BEND; OR (OTH). I DSNDED IN VFR CONDITIONS AND LANDED TO SPEND THE NIGHT AT NORTH BEND. AFTER LNDG; I CONTACTED THE ATC SUPVR AND DISCUSSED THE SIT AND HOW IT COULD BE AVOIDED IN THE FUTURE.

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.