Narrative:

I obtained a preflight briefing from bridgeport FSS. Based on this briefing the worst conditions I could expect on my flight from psf to west 10 was marginal VFR. I departed 2 hours, 30 mins later, climbed to 4500' MSL and continued at this ht with advisories from alb approach until 30 mi southeast of alb. About 20 mi northeast of huguenot I contacted ny center for advisories and started a climb to 10500' MSL to remain VFR, had to continue climb to 12500' MSL to remain VFR. About 16 NM southeast of huguenot I had to continue my climb to 14500' MSL to remain VFR. I didn't want to climb any higher because my plane was not O2 equipped, although I could see clear skies about 3000' above. I was between layers of clouds. The layers closed in in front of me so I attempted at 180 degree turn and found that it had closed in behind me. I contacted ny center and told them that I had a problem and was no longer VFR and was in the clouds. I was told to keep wings level and they would try to vector me to VFR conditions. I informed ATC that I had 55 hours instrument training and could come down through the clouds ok. I continued on course and descended. I broke out at about 2500' MSL and 5 mi north of allentown. I continued to allentown and landed. I am going to continue and get my instrument rating as soon as possible so that I won't get myself into this position again!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA CONTINUED VFR FLT IN IMC WITH HELP FROM ZNY.

Narrative: I OBTAINED A PREFLT BRIEFING FROM BRIDGEPORT FSS. BASED ON THIS BRIEFING THE WORST CONDITIONS I COULD EXPECT ON MY FLT FROM PSF TO W 10 WAS MARGINAL VFR. I DEPARTED 2 HRS, 30 MINS LATER, CLBED TO 4500' MSL AND CONTINUED AT THIS HT WITH ADVISORIES FROM ALB APCH UNTIL 30 MI SE OF ALB. ABOUT 20 MI NE OF HUGUENOT I CONTACTED NY CENTER FOR ADVISORIES AND STARTED A CLB TO 10500' MSL TO REMAIN VFR, HAD TO CONTINUE CLB TO 12500' MSL TO REMAIN VFR. ABOUT 16 NM SE OF HUGUENOT I HAD TO CONTINUE MY CLB TO 14500' MSL TO REMAIN VFR. I DIDN'T WANT TO CLB ANY HIGHER BECAUSE MY PLANE WAS NOT O2 EQUIPPED, ALTHOUGH I COULD SEE CLEAR SKIES ABOUT 3000' ABOVE. I WAS BTWN LAYERS OF CLOUDS. THE LAYERS CLOSED IN IN FRONT OF ME SO I ATTEMPTED AT 180 DEG TURN AND FOUND THAT IT HAD CLOSED IN BEHIND ME. I CONTACTED NY CENTER AND TOLD THEM THAT I HAD A PROB AND WAS NO LONGER VFR AND WAS IN THE CLOUDS. I WAS TOLD TO KEEP WINGS LEVEL AND THEY WOULD TRY TO VECTOR ME TO VFR CONDITIONS. I INFORMED ATC THAT I HAD 55 HRS INSTRUMENT TRNING AND COULD COME DOWN THROUGH THE CLOUDS OK. I CONTINUED ON COURSE AND DSNDED. I BROKE OUT AT ABOUT 2500' MSL AND 5 MI N OF ALLENTOWN. I CONTINUED TO ALLENTOWN AND LANDED. I AM GOING TO CONTINUE AND GET MY INSTRUMENT RATING ASAP SO THAT I WON'T GET MYSELF INTO THIS POS AGAIN!

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.