A LOW TIME GA PLT ENRTE KETCHIKAN FROM PORT HARDY ENCOUNTERS IMC WHILE IN VFR FLT. CZVR; ZAN CTLRS; AND KTN FSS SPECIALIST CLRLY SAVED THE RPTR'S LIFE WITH THEIR FLT ASSIST.

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A FULL BRIEFING AT PORT HARDY FSS FOR A VFR FLT DIRECT TO KETCHIKAN INDICATED VFR SHOULD BE SAFE. HOWEVER; A LOW PRESSURE FRONT WAS EXPECTED TO MOVE IN DURING THE EARLY EVENING -- ABOUT 5 HRS AFTER ETA. STRONG 30 KT TAILWINDS WERE EXPERIENCED OUT OF PORT HARDY AT AN ALT OF 8500 FT. PRECIPITATION BEGAN NEAR BELLA BELLA AND VISIBILITY WAS REDUCED TO 5 MI. A DSCNT TO 6000 AND THEN 2500 FT WAS COMMENCED TO REMAIN VFR. KETCHIKAN WAS RPTING VFR 35 MI VISIBILITY; 4000 FT CEILINGS. NEAR 2000 FT MOUNTAINS; IMC WAS ENCOUNTERED AT 2500 FT NEAR PORCHER ISLAND NEAR PRINCE RUPERT. A 180 DEG TURN WAS DEEMED UNSAFE GIVEN VISIBILITY SO A CLB TO 9500 FT WAS COMMENCED; DURING WHICH CZVR ISSUED A CLRNC TO KETCHIKAN AT 10000 FT. WHEN HANDED TO ZAN; RADAR VECTOR APCH WAS REQUESTED AND DENIED. THEN THE ILS APCH PROCS WERE RELAYED AND COPIED. HOWEVER; ANN'S DME WAS NOT WORKING UNTIL 6.4 DME SO A DIFFERENT APCH WAS REQUESTED. A LOC APCH WAS PROVIDED AND DURING INBOUND COURSE; THE LOC WAS LOST WHILE THE ACFT REACHED VMC. CTLR BEGAN RELAYING MAP PROCS BUT PLT REQUESTED TO MAINTAIN VFR. CTLR SWITCHED PLT TO KETCHIKAN FSS WHERE A DF STEER WAS USED TO GUIDE THE PLT TO A VFR LNDG. INCIDENTALLY; THE ZAN CTLR WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL AND DID A VERY GOOD JOB. ALSO; PITOT TUBE FROZE UP AND WAS NOT FUNCTIONING AT ABOUT 25 NM S ANN. LACK OF AIRSPD INDICATOR WAS MAJOR REASON FOR PLT'S REQUEST TO STAY VFR AFTER LOSING LOC.