GA small aircraft in-flight WX encounter. VFR in IMC.

Attributes
ACN	98958
Time
Date	198811
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sdf airport : 6m5
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sdf
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 38 flight time total : 158 flight time type : 27
ASRS Report	98958
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I took off from hancock airport (53 NM southwest of sdf) into marginal VFR WX. I was tracking the nabb VOR with intentions of landing at madison municipal airport. Approximately 10-15 mins into the trip, roughly 35 NM west of sdf, I flew into a cloud and lost visual contact with the ground. When a 180 degree turn did not bring me back into the clear, I turned and continued to track VOR trying to maintain straight and level altitude in severe turbulence. Realizing the danger of my situation and realizing that I was well beyond my capabilities, I contacted first evansville approach, then sdf approach, who directed me to their area where the WX was VFR, then to a landing at sdf. I realize that turning back and continuing to track the VOR was a poor decision. However, this is hindsight. Should a similar situation ever arise that is one mistake I won't repeat. When I arrived at my home airport I scheduled myself for instrument instruction as well as scheduling time with my instrument for discussion of WX systems and emergency procedures.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA INFLT WX ENCOUNTER. VFR IN IMC.

Narrative: I TOOK OFF FROM HANCOCK ARPT (53 NM SW OF SDF) INTO MARGINAL VFR WX. I WAS TRACKING THE NABB VOR WITH INTENTIONS OF LNDG AT MADISON MUNICIPAL ARPT. APPROX 10-15 MINS INTO THE TRIP, ROUGHLY 35 NM W OF SDF, I FLEW INTO A CLOUD AND LOST VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE GND. WHEN A 180 DEG TURN DID NOT BRING ME BACK INTO THE CLR, I TURNED AND CONTINUED TO TRACK VOR TRYING TO MAINTAIN STRAIGHT AND LEVEL ALT IN SEVERE TURB. REALIZING THE DANGER OF MY SITUATION AND REALIZING THAT I WAS WELL BEYOND MY CAPABILITIES, I CONTACTED FIRST EVANSVILLE APCH, THEN SDF APCH, WHO DIRECTED ME TO THEIR AREA WHERE THE WX WAS VFR, THEN TO A LNDG AT SDF. I REALIZE THAT TURNING BACK AND CONTINUING TO TRACK THE VOR WAS A POOR DECISION. HOWEVER, THIS IS HINDSIGHT. SHOULD A SIMILAR SITUATION EVER ARISE THAT IS ONE MISTAKE I WON'T REPEAT. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY HOME ARPT I SCHEDULED MYSELF FOR INSTRUMENT INSTRUCTION AS WELL AS SCHEDULING TIME WITH MY INSTR FOR DISCUSSION OF WX SYSTEMS AND EMER PROCS.

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.