No flight plan attempting VFR flight encounters IMC conditions.

Attributes
ACN	98403
Time
Date	198811
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : gdm airport : fit
State Reference	MA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bos tracon : bdl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 530
ASRS Report	98403
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On 11/sun/88 I left bridgeport, ct, VFR for fitchburg, ma, at approximately XA00. I was in touch with bradley until I lost them at approximately 8 NM ene of hartford where they advised me of traffic at 1 mi and 12 O'clock. They were unable to read me. Responded that I did not see the traffic and was diverting to the west to avoid. I proceeded to fit LORAN direct. Near barre hiller airport in barre, mass, I suddenly found myself in IMC conditions. After executing a 180 degree turn, I was unable to get back to VFR conditions. I was at 2500' and did not want to descend because mt wachusett in princeton, ma, is over 2000' high. Remembering the 4 C's I climbed, communicated, confessed and complied. After leveling off at 3000' I called bos approach. They handed me off to bradley who handed me back to bos. Bos appraised my ability to fly the plane then vectored me to lawrence, mass, and let me descend below the overcast, whereupon I flew VFR to fit. Bos approach was very helpful and considerate.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NO FLT PLAN ATTEMPTING VFR FLT ENCOUNTERS IMC CONDITIONS.

Narrative: ON 11/SUN/88 I LEFT BRIDGEPORT, CT, VFR FOR FITCHBURG, MA, AT APPROX XA00. I WAS IN TOUCH WITH BRADLEY UNTIL I LOST THEM AT APPROX 8 NM ENE OF HARTFORD WHERE THEY ADVISED ME OF TFC AT 1 MI AND 12 O'CLOCK. THEY WERE UNABLE TO READ ME. RESPONDED THAT I DID NOT SEE THE TFC AND WAS DIVERTING TO THE W TO AVOID. I PROCEEDED TO FIT LORAN DIRECT. NEAR BARRE HILLER ARPT IN BARRE, MASS, I SUDDENLY FOUND MYSELF IN IMC CONDITIONS. AFTER EXECUTING A 180 DEG TURN, I WAS UNABLE TO GET BACK TO VFR CONDITIONS. I WAS AT 2500' AND DID NOT WANT TO DSND BECAUSE MT WACHUSETT IN PRINCETON, MA, IS OVER 2000' HIGH. REMEMBERING THE 4 C'S I CLBED, COMMUNICATED, CONFESSED AND COMPLIED. AFTER LEVELING OFF AT 3000' I CALLED BOS APCH. THEY HANDED ME OFF TO BRADLEY WHO HANDED ME BACK TO BOS. BOS APPRAISED MY ABILITY TO FLY THE PLANE THEN VECTORED ME TO LAWRENCE, MASS, AND LET ME DSND BELOW THE OVCST, WHEREUPON I FLEW VFR TO FIT. BOS APCH WAS VERY HELPFUL AND CONSIDERATE.

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.