CAPT OF AN LFT ACFT 'FERRY' FLT UNKNOWINGLY FILED AND OPERATED UNDER 'IFR' IN VFR CONDITIONS WHICH WAS NOT INDICATED ON THE SPECIAL FLT PERMIT OPERATING LIMITATIONS.

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ON 10/92; I WAS PIC OF AN LGT WHICH DEPARTED MARANA; AZ; (PINAL AIR PARK) ON A FERRY FLT TO PHOENIX SKYHARBOR ARPT. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO COMPLETE A POST- STORAGE FUNCTIONAL CHK FLT FOR THE MANUFACTURING COMPANY; AND DELIVER THE AIRPLANE TO PHOENIX FOR MODIFICATION. A SPECIAL FLT PERMIT WAS ISSUED AND DISPLAYED FOR THIS FLT; IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 21.197; FAR 21.199 AND FAR 91.203. THIS PERMIT WAS ISSUED BY THE PHOENIX OFFICE OF THE FAA (FSDO); SIGNED BY FAA INSPECTOR; AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR. (SEE ATTACHED COPIES OF THE SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE AND ACCOMPANYING OPERATING LIMITS LETTER). THE OPERATING LIMITATIONS LETTER SPECIFIED THAT THE FLT WAS TO BE CONDUCTED IN 'DAY-VFR' CONDITIONS; WHICH I INCORRECTLY INTERPRETED TO MEAN IFR FLT IN DAY VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC). AFTER INITIAL AIRBORNE AIRWORTHINESS DETERMINATION; I SUBSEQUENTLY FLEW A HIGH ALT/LOW ALT FUNCTIONAL FLT CHK PROFILE IN VMC CONDITIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR COMPANY'S FAA APPROVED FLT TEST DOCUMENT (PRODUCTION FLT TEST PROCS FOR LFT SERIES ACFT MODEL DOCUMENT NUMBER DATED 4/81) TO SATISFY THE NOTATION ENTERED IN THE REMARKS SECTION OF THE FLT LOG. THE FLT WAS CONDUCTED CLR OF CLOUDS; BUT; AFTER REFLECTION; MAY NOT MEET THE INTENT OF THE SPECIAL FLT PERMIT. THE MANUFACTURING COMPANY AND I WILL COMMUNICATE WITH THE FAA TO CLARIFY NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR FUTURE SPECIAL FLT PERMITS.