A C206 PLT ENCOUNTERED IMC; WHILE VFR; IN ZAN AIRSPACE.

Narrative

WHILE VFR ENRTE FROM ILIAMNA; AK TO ANCHORAGE; AK. I BRIEFLY ENCOUNTERED IMC CONDITIONS. I CLBED THROUGH THE 500 FT OF OVCST AND; FOR THE NEXT 30 NM; I HAD ONLY LIMITED GLIMPSES OF THE TERRAIN BELOW. PREVIOUSLY; I HAD TAKEN OFF FROM NEW STUYAHOK; AK; (PAIL) UNDER MOSTLY CLR AND SUNNY SKIES. I PLANNED A FUEL STOP 85 NM TO THE E AT ILIAMNA. I FLEW AT 2500 FT BELOW A THIN BROKEN CLOUD LAYER. WHILE DEPARTING PAIL; AN ARRIVING PILATUS PC-12 ISSUED A PLT RPT TO THE FSS. THE RPT WAS CLOUD TOPS AT 4000 FT; E TOWARD MT ILIAMNA AND CLR FROM THERE TO ANCHORAGE. I HAD ALREADY CHKED THE ANCHORAGE WX WITH FSS AND KNEW IT WOULD BE CLR. SINCE I COULD SEE BLUE SKY ABOVE ME AND SUN STREAKS ON THE SURFACE BELOW AND AROUND ME; I BEGAN A CLB FROM MY CURRENT CRUISING ALT OF 3500 FT. I BRIEFLY ENCOUNTERED IMC CONDITIONS AND BROKE OUT AT ABOUT 4200 FT UNDER CLR; SUNNY SKIES. AS I CLBED HIGHER TO CLR TERRAIN TO THE E; I DISCOVERED THAT I HAD ONLY LIMITED CONTACT WITH THE GND. A SAFE EMER LNDG; IN THE EVENT OF A POWER PLANT FAILURE; WOULD BE DIFFICULT AT BEST. THIS CONDITION PERSISTED FOR APPROX 30 NM. ABOUT 20 NM W OF MT REDOUBT THE CLOUD COVER DISSIPATED. I HAD CLBED TO 9500 FT TO INCREASE MY SAFETY MARGIN. I CONTINUED ON TO ANCHORAGE WITHOUT INCIDENT.