Narrative:

I departed ZZZ on an instrument flight plan for ssi. After receiving my clearance from chattanooga approach; I proceeded on course (125) for ahn VOR. After less than 30 mins I determined that I could not safely get through a line of thunderstorms. I asked for and received vectors to the nearest airport that was above minimums. I was vectored to ZZZ1. I asked for; and was given the ILS runway 1 approach. While en route; I tried to retrieve the approach plate for the ZZZ1 approach; but couldn't find it. While searching for the plate; I inadvertently deviated over 90 degrees from my assigned heading; and approximately 1000 ft below assigned altitude (4000 ft). When I realized my problem; I climbed back to altitude and back on heading. At this time I realized I had gone below the MEA. ZTL had been trying to reach me. I finally found my approach plate; but was so unnerved by this point that I was unable to maintain heading and altitude. I deviated from both at least 3 more times. At this point; the controller offered me clearance to an airport that was VFR. I gratefully accepted and was vectored to ZZZ2; approximately 50 mi west. I landed at ZZZ2 without incident. At one point; when I was below assigned altitude; I saw what I believe to have been a military jet fly about 500 ft below me on the same heading. I do not know if the jet had to deviate to avoid me. I later returned to my home airport ZZZ in IMC; after a 2 hour wait at ZZZ2. I was able to fly VMC later that day to ssi. I should point out that; though I am legally current; I have flown very little in the last 8 months. While I had flown the required approachs and holds over the last couple of days; without trouble; I don't think I was really ready for real IMC.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INEXPERIENCED IN ACTUAL IMC; PLT OF C172 DEVIATES GROSSLY FROM ASSIGNED HEADINGS AND ALTITUDES MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE ACCEPTING OFFER OF VECTORS TO VMC CONDITIONS.

Narrative: I DEPARTED ZZZ ON AN INST FLT PLAN FOR SSI. AFTER RECEIVING MY CLRNC FROM CHATTANOOGA APCH; I PROCEEDED ON COURSE (125) FOR AHN VOR. AFTER LESS THAN 30 MINS I DETERMINED THAT I COULD NOT SAFELY GET THROUGH A LINE OF TSTMS. I ASKED FOR AND RECEIVED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST ARPT THAT WAS ABOVE MINIMUMS. I WAS VECTORED TO ZZZ1. I ASKED FOR; AND WAS GIVEN THE ILS RWY 1 APCH. WHILE ENRTE; I TRIED TO RETRIEVE THE APCH PLATE FOR THE ZZZ1 APCH; BUT COULDN'T FIND IT. WHILE SEARCHING FOR THE PLATE; I INADVERTENTLY DEVIATED OVER 90 DEGS FROM MY ASSIGNED HDG; AND APPROX 1000 FT BELOW ASSIGNED ALT (4000 FT). WHEN I REALIZED MY PROB; I CLBED BACK TO ALT AND BACK ON HDG. AT THIS TIME I REALIZED I HAD GONE BELOW THE MEA. ZTL HAD BEEN TRYING TO REACH ME. I FINALLY FOUND MY APCH PLATE; BUT WAS SO UNNERVED BY THIS POINT THAT I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN HDG AND ALT. I DEVIATED FROM BOTH AT LEAST 3 MORE TIMES. AT THIS POINT; THE CTLR OFFERED ME CLRNC TO AN ARPT THAT WAS VFR. I GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED AND WAS VECTORED TO ZZZ2; APPROX 50 MI W. I LANDED AT ZZZ2 WITHOUT INCIDENT. AT ONE POINT; WHEN I WAS BELOW ASSIGNED ALT; I SAW WHAT I BELIEVE TO HAVE BEEN A MIL JET FLY ABOUT 500 FT BELOW ME ON THE SAME HDG. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE JET HAD TO DEVIATE TO AVOID ME. I LATER RETURNED TO MY HOME ARPT ZZZ IN IMC; AFTER A 2 HR WAIT AT ZZZ2. I WAS ABLE TO FLY VMC LATER THAT DAY TO SSI. I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT; THOUGH I AM LEGALLY CURRENT; I HAVE FLOWN VERY LITTLE IN THE LAST 8 MONTHS. WHILE I HAD FLOWN THE REQUIRED APCHS AND HOLDS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS; WITHOUT TROUBLE; I DON'T THINK I WAS REALLY READY FOR REAL IMC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.