Pilatus PC12 pilot encounters IMC conditions during VFR flight.

Attributes
ACN	722996
Time
Date	200701
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dpa.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl single value : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : c90.tracon tower : dpa.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PC-12
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	722996
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

The encounter with IMC happened approximately 3 mins after a VFR departure from 06C (schaumberg; regional). I climbed to 1500 ft MSL due to airspace restrs (class B; chicago O'hare at 1900 ft MSL) and turned towards dpa; my intended landing located 8 mi southwest. Shortly after takeoff I made radio contact with dpa tower and requested a VFR arrival. Tower instructed me to fly west for sequence behind other aircraft. I turned west and noticed low hanging clouds. I then requested an IFR 'pop-up' clearance from dpa tower; informing him that I would be unable to maintain VFR on a westerly heading. Tower gave me a different frequency for that request. I quickly contacted chicago approach on the new frequency and requested the 'pop-up' IFR. As approach was giving me a transponder code I began encountering IMC. The IMC was in the form of low hanging clouds which occasionally obscured the ground. Approach asked me if I could maintain my own terrain separation up to 2600 ft MSL. I stated I could. I used ground proximity warning system (GPWS) to ensure no obstacles and climbed to 2600 ft MSL. Upon reaching 2600 ft MSL I xferred to IFR. The remainder of the flight was without incident under IFR. Flight time to dpa was approximately 12 mins. Time span encountering IMC before being on an IFR clearance; less than 2 mins.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PILATUS PC12 PLT ENCOUNTERS IMC CONDITIONS DURING VFR FLT.

Narrative: THE ENCOUNTER WITH IMC HAPPENED APPROX 3 MINS AFTER A VFR DEP FROM 06C (SCHAUMBERG; REGIONAL). I CLBED TO 1500 FT MSL DUE TO AIRSPACE RESTRS (CLASS B; CHICAGO O'HARE AT 1900 FT MSL) AND TURNED TOWARDS DPA; MY INTENDED LNDG LOCATED 8 MI SW. SHORTLY AFTER TKOF I MADE RADIO CONTACT WITH DPA TWR AND REQUESTED A VFR ARR. TWR INSTRUCTED ME TO FLY W FOR SEQUENCE BEHIND OTHER ACFT. I TURNED W AND NOTICED LOW HANGING CLOUDS. I THEN REQUESTED AN IFR 'POP-UP' CLRNC FROM DPA TWR; INFORMING HIM THAT I WOULD BE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN VFR ON A WESTERLY HDG. TWR GAVE ME A DIFFERENT FREQ FOR THAT REQUEST. I QUICKLY CONTACTED CHICAGO APCH ON THE NEW FREQ AND REQUESTED THE 'POP-UP' IFR. AS APCH WAS GIVING ME A XPONDER CODE I BEGAN ENCOUNTERING IMC. THE IMC WAS IN THE FORM OF LOW HANGING CLOUDS WHICH OCCASIONALLY OBSCURED THE GND. APCH ASKED ME IF I COULD MAINTAIN MY OWN TERRAIN SEPARATION UP TO 2600 FT MSL. I STATED I COULD. I USED GND PROX WARNING SYS (GPWS) TO ENSURE NO OBSTACLES AND CLBED TO 2600 FT MSL. UPON REACHING 2600 FT MSL I XFERRED TO IFR. THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT WAS WITHOUT INCIDENT UNDER IFR. FLT TIME TO DPA WAS APPROX 12 MINS. TIME SPAN ENCOUNTERING IMC BEFORE BEING ON AN IFR CLRNC; LESS THAN 2 MINS.

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.