C172 pilot encounters WX en route and is VFR in IMC conditions.

Attributes
ACN	724906
Time
Date	200701
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pit.tracon
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Weather Elements	Ice Snow Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : pit.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 105 flight time type : 95
ASRS Report	724906
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : turbulence non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I departed rdg. After about 30 mins after takeoff I entered heavy turbulence. The current clouds were scattered at 4500 ft MSL. My current altitude was 4000 ft MSL. I thought it was necessary to try a different altitude to try to get out of the turbulence; I then climbed to 6500 ft MSL no turbulence was encountered; as I was proceeding on course the layer below me developed into overcast; losing all references to the ground; hence being in IMC or VFR on top. Unknowing that this was indeed IFR I proceeded as we were approaching closer to the airport I saw a hole in the clouds that was indeed the size of 1/4 mi I proceeded to descend through the hole to try to maintain VFR thinking this might be my only chance to get through the cloud layer without descending directly through them. After descending through I encountered heavy snow below me and was developing icing on the leading edge of the C172. I did not have any airports that were close to me at this time I thought that for the safety of me and my passenger that I needed to get back up above the layer where it was clear; I then broke VFR and climbed directly through the clouds (I was currently under flight following and asked ATC prior if any traffic was anywhere near me they said 'no traffic within 30 mi of current position). After successfully climbing above the WX I kept proceeding to destination. When I was directly about 20 NM north of the outer ring of their airspace I received a transmission telling me WX at destination was 1/4 mi visibility; 1100 ft overcast; he recommended I deviate; I agreed. He then started to give me vectors to the nearest airport (bvi) at this time I thought it was absolutely necessary for me to get this airplane on the ground. While giving me vectors to the airport I was forced to descend down through the overcast layer into actual IMC after looking at the sectional determining where I was at and knowing that there were no obstacles in the area. After this they handed me off to bvi tower and landed safely then was forced to stay the night in bvi until the next morning and was on my way back home (rdg).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT ENCOUNTERS WX ENRTE AND IS VFR IN IMC CONDITIONS.

Narrative: I DEPARTED RDG. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINS AFTER TKOF I ENTERED HVY TURB. THE CURRENT CLOUDS WERE SCATTERED AT 4500 FT MSL. MY CURRENT ALT WAS 4000 FT MSL. I THOUGHT IT WAS NECESSARY TO TRY A DIFFERENT ALT TO TRY TO GET OUT OF THE TURB; I THEN CLBED TO 6500 FT MSL NO TURB WAS ENCOUNTERED; AS I WAS PROCEEDING ON COURSE THE LAYER BELOW ME DEVELOPED INTO OVCST; LOSING ALL REFS TO THE GND; HENCE BEING IN IMC OR VFR ON TOP. UNKNOWING THAT THIS WAS INDEED IFR I PROCEEDED AS WE WERE APCHING CLOSER TO THE ARPT I SAW A HOLE IN THE CLOUDS THAT WAS INDEED THE SIZE OF 1/4 MI I PROCEEDED TO DSND THROUGH THE HOLE TO TRY TO MAINTAIN VFR THINKING THIS MIGHT BE MY ONLY CHANCE TO GET THROUGH THE CLOUD LAYER WITHOUT DSNDING DIRECTLY THROUGH THEM. AFTER DSNDING THROUGH I ENCOUNTERED HVY SNOW BELOW ME AND WAS DEVELOPING ICING ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE C172. I DID NOT HAVE ANY ARPTS THAT WERE CLOSE TO ME AT THIS TIME I THOUGHT THAT FOR THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY PAX THAT I NEEDED TO GET BACK UP ABOVE THE LAYER WHERE IT WAS CLR; I THEN BROKE VFR AND CLBED DIRECTLY THROUGH THE CLOUDS (I WAS CURRENTLY UNDER FLT FOLLOWING AND ASKED ATC PRIOR IF ANY TFC WAS ANYWHERE NEAR ME THEY SAID 'NO TFC WITHIN 30 MI OF CURRENT POS). AFTER SUCCESSFULLY CLBING ABOVE THE WX I KEPT PROCEEDING TO DEST. WHEN I WAS DIRECTLY ABOUT 20 NM N OF THE OUTER RING OF THEIR AIRSPACE I RECEIVED A XMISSION TELLING ME WX AT DEST WAS 1/4 MI VISIBILITY; 1100 FT OVCST; HE RECOMMENDED I DEVIATE; I AGREED. HE THEN STARTED TO GIVE ME VECTORS TO THE NEAREST ARPT (BVI) AT THIS TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR ME TO GET THIS AIRPLANE ON THE GND. WHILE GIVING ME VECTORS TO THE ARPT I WAS FORCED TO DSND DOWN THROUGH THE OVCST LAYER INTO ACTUAL IMC AFTER LOOKING AT THE SECTIONAL DETERMINING WHERE I WAS AT AND KNOWING THAT THERE WERE NO OBSTACLES IN THE AREA. AFTER THIS THEY HANDED ME OFF TO BVI TWR AND LANDED SAFELY THEN WAS FORCED TO STAY THE NIGHT IN BVI UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING AND WAS ON MY WAY BACK HOME (RDG).

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.