PLT OF SENECA DEPARTS PRIOR TO RECEIVING IFR CLRNC AND ATTEMPTS TO ACQUIRE IT DURING CLB. HE ENTERS IFR PRIOR TO CLRNC.

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DAY BEGAN DEPARTING DTO IN CLR SKIES WITH A FRIEND; MY WIFE AND 2 OF MY CHILDREN FOR EYQ. LOW CEILINGS AT EYQ REQUIRED NDB APCH. BROKE OUT AT 1400 FT MSL WITH ARPT IN SIGHT AND CIRCLED TO LAND. MY WIFE REMAINED IN HOUSTON. AFTER REFUELING WE TAXIED TO RWY 9 AT EYQ AND TRIED 4 TIMES ON THE GND TO CONTACT HOUSTON DEP CTL ON 123.8 FOR CLRNC (IFR FLT PLAN WAS FILED). I MADE THE DECISION TO TKOF AND CONTACT DEP IN THE AIR WHILE REMAINING VFR IN THE PATTERN AT EYQ. MY DECISION WAS BASED ON MY VISUAL OBSERVATION OF WX CONDITIONS AND THE FACT THAT 1 HR EARLIER I PERSONALLY OBSERVED THE CEILING AT 1400 FT MSL. AT 500 FT AGL I CHANGED FROM CTAF TO DEP FREQ AND ANNOUNCED; 'OFF FROM WEISER; REQUESTING CLRNC.' AT 700 FT AGL IN VMC; I TURNED L XWIND AS THE CTLR RESPONDED; 'REMAIN VFR.' AS THOSE WORDS CAME OUT OF HIS MOUTH; I INADVERTENTLY ENTERED IMC AND ANNOUNCED TO THE CTLR THAT I WAS IN 'THE MILK.' THE CTLR GAVE ME A XPONDER CODE; HDG; AND ALT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER HE GAVE ME THE REMAINDER OF MY CLRNC AND ASKED ME TO CONTACT THE HOUSTON TRACON SUPVR BY PHONE. I CALLED HIM UPON ARR AT DTO. HE INDICATED HE WOULD FILE A PLTDEV RPT. CONSIDERATIONS: MY ENTRY INTO IMC PRIOR TO CLRNC WAS INADVERTENT; ACCIDENTAL AND UNEXPECTED. I TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION AS REQUESTED BY THE CTLR. MY FLT PROCEEDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. I KNOW THERE ARE MANY UNCTLED ARPTS WITHOUT A CLRNC DELIVERY; EYQ IS ONE. I WILL BE PURCHASING A CELL PHONE FOR FUTURE USE ON THE GND TO RECEIVE CLRNC AT SUCH ARPTS.