A STUDENT SMA PLT FOUND HIMSELF IN A CLOUD IN THE TFC PATTERN.

Narrative

AFTER BEING ASSURED THE PATTERN WAS 'FLYABLE;' AND PREFLTING THE SMA; I ATTEMPTED TO TKOF IN A NORMAL MANNER. I PULLED OUT MORE STEEPLY THAN USUAL. THIS CAUSED ME TO LOSE THE HORIZON MOMENTARILY. THIS; IN TURN; COUPLED WITH DRIFTING FOG; LED TO MY FLYING INTO A CLOUD OF FOG AT APPROX 1000 FT MSL. MOMENTARILY PANICKED AND DISORIENTED; I CLBED HIGHER INTO THE CLOUD. AFTER THE INITIAL DISORIENTATION HAD PASSED; I SETTLED DOWN AND FLEW USING THE INSTS. I KNEW THERE WERE NO HIGH STRUCTURES OR HILLS NEAR MY POS; SO I CAREFULLY DSNDED AFTER ANNOUNCING IT ON THE CTAF/UNICOM. UPON SIGHTING THE FIELD; I FLEW THE PATTERN AT APPROX 850 FT MSL AND MADE THE LNDG. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: POOR WX BRIEFING. PLT INEXPERIENCE. LOSS OF HORIZON DURING CLBOUT. SLOW AND WRONG REACTION BY PLT WHEN CLOUD FIRST ENTERED. ERRONEOUS BELIEF THAT PATTERN ALT MUST BE ADHERED TO -- ALWAYS. PERHAPS THE SYLLABUS FOR STUDENT PLTS COULD EMPHASIZE CORRECT PROC FOR CLOUD AVOIDANCE IN EVERY CASE -- EVEN IF PROPER PATTERN ALT CANNOT BE OBTAINED.