VFR in IMC, heading deviation.

Attributes
ACN	94998
Time
Date	198809
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ssi
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 550 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	94998
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While on a VFR flight from int to space center executive airport (titusville, fl) in the early morning hours I accidentally got in the clouds of a thunderstorm while talking to ZJX. I immediately asked for an IFR clearance to a point outside the convective activity which they issued. Due to the excitement of the moment and turbulence of the thunderstorm I didn't properly write down the clearance. From ssi my clearance was to follow V-3 to orm. I mistakenly followed V37. The controller noted my mistake and cleared me orm by V37 and V51. Contributing factors: early morning hours and not enough sleep. FSS briefing did not emphasize or sufficiently cover WX in this area. Also, I should have gotten updated briefing from flight watch. Turbulence and shock from violating fail's. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter states controller did not comment other than to amend clearance and get him on course. No FAA follow up to date.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VFR IN IMC, HEADING DEVIATION.

Narrative: WHILE ON A VFR FLT FROM INT TO SPACE CENTER EXECUTIVE ARPT (TITUSVILLE, FL) IN THE EARLY MORNING HRS I ACCIDENTALLY GOT IN THE CLOUDS OF A TSTM WHILE TALKING TO ZJX. I IMMEDIATELY ASKED FOR AN IFR CLRNC TO A POINT OUTSIDE THE CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY WHICH THEY ISSUED. DUE TO THE EXCITEMENT OF THE MOMENT AND TURB OF THE TSTM I DIDN'T PROPERLY WRITE DOWN THE CLRNC. FROM SSI MY CLRNC WAS TO FOLLOW V-3 TO ORM. I MISTAKENLY FOLLOWED V37. THE CTLR NOTED MY MISTAKE AND CLRED ME ORM BY V37 AND V51. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: EARLY MORNING HRS AND NOT ENOUGH SLEEP. FSS BRIEFING DID NOT EMPHASIZE OR SUFFICIENTLY COVER WX IN THIS AREA. ALSO, I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN UPDATED BRIEFING FROM FLT WATCH. TURB AND SHOCK FROM VIOLATING FAIL'S. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR STATES CTLR DID NOT COMMENT OTHER THAN TO AMEND CLRNC AND GET HIM ON COURSE. NO FAA FOLLOW UP TO DATE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.