A PA32 PLT VFR IN IMC.

Narrative

WE LEFT OKEECHOBEE ABOUT XA00 THAT MORNING. FSS HAD CALLED FOR 4-6 MI IN HAZE; CLR BELOW 12000 FT WITH SCATTERED TSTMS VARYING IN SIZE COMING IN FROM THE GULF MOVING SSE. WE HAD ALREADY CIRCUMVENTED 2 LARGE CELLS AT LAKELAND AND N OF ORLANDO WHEN WE APCHED THE THIRD ONE. AS WE TURNED TO THE ENE; I DIALED IN TLH ATIS TO SEE IF CONDITIONS HAD CHANGED. ATIS RPTED CLR BELOW 12000 FT WITH 6 MI IN HAZE. I THOUGHT I WOULD BE ABLE TO GO AROUND THE CELL AND BE IN THE CLR DESPITE DARKENING SKIES IN FRONT OF ME. I KEPT THINKING I WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE MY WAY THROUGH BECAUSE OF THE PREVIOUS CELLS AND THE ATIS RPT. I WAS AT 6500 FT AND THE VISIBILITY WAS GETTING WORSE AND THE CLOUDS WERE CLOSING IN FAST. I WAITED TOO LONG TO REACT. I SAW OPENINGS ABOVE AND TRIED TO CLB. I TURNED OFF THE AUTOPLT AND TRIED TO CLB; BUT A PA32 AT 6500 FT HAS NO SUBSTANTIAL CLB RATE; SO I TURNED TO THE L TO TRY AND DO A 180 DEG TURN. I WAS ALREADY IN IMC AND LOST CTL. I HAD CLBED TO ALMOST 8300 FT WHEN I TURNED. THE VERT SPD INDICATOR SHOWED 2000 FPM. I FROZE ON THIS INST BECAUSE I COULDN'T COMPREHEND UP OR DOWN. THE 2000 FT MARK IS 180 DEGS OUT FROM 0 FT OR STRAIGHT AND LEVEL. I DON'T KNOW IF I LOOKED AT ANYTHING ELSE AS IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY. I EASED BACK ON THE YOKE AND THE INDICATOR STARTED MOVING BACK TOWARD 1000 FPM. I CONTINUED TO PULL BACK UNTIL THE DSCNT WAS 200-300 FPM; AT WHICH TIME I ENGAGED THE AUTOPLT. I WAS AROUND 6000-6500 FT AND HAD TURNED APPROX 290 DEGS WITH NO VISIBILITY. I CONTACTED APCH TO LET THEM KNOW I WAS A VFR ONLY PLT IN IFR CONDITIONS AND TO PLEASE VECTOR ME AWAY FROM CELLS AND TOWARDS TLH. THEY WERE A TREMENDOUS HELP AND I THANK GOD FOR THEM EVERY DAY. WITH THE HELP FROM THEM AND THE AUTOPLT; I DSNDED TO 3000 FT TO VFR CONDITIONS AND LANDED AT TLH. IN SUMMARY; I REALIZE I CHOSE TO BELIEVE WHAT I HEARD (ATIS) INSTEAD OF WHAT I WAS ACTUALLY SEEING; EVEN THOUGH I WAS OVER 30 MI FROM THE ARPT. I USED POOR JUDGEMENT; MADE BAD DECISIONS AND FAILED TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION SOON ENOUGH. ONCE I REALIZED MY MISTAKE I WAS SO INTENT ON STAYING CLR OF THE CLOUDS THAT I COMMITTED SEVERAL MORE. FIRST MISTAKE: SLOW TO REACT AND NOT BELIEVING WHAT I WAS SEEING. SECOND MISTAKE: TURNED AUTOPLT OFF. THIRD MISTAKE: TRIED TO CLB. FOURTH MISTAKE: TURNING. I WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF STRAIGHT AHEAD AND LEVEL. I WAS TRAINED TO DO A 180 DEG TURN BACK. I'M NOT SURE IF THE CLB CAUSED ME TO BECOME SO DISORIENTED SO QUICK OR NOT. I DO KNOW IFR TRAINING IS IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND ANY PLANE I SHOULD EVER OWN WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOPLT.