C206 PLT ENCOUNTERS IFR CONDITIONS WHILE FLYING VFR TO FSM.
Synopsis
C206 PLT ENCOUNTERS IFR CONDITIONS WHILE FLYING VFR TO FSM.
Narrative
ON NOV/WED/03; I DEPARTED DELHI BTWN XA30 AND XB00. I CONTACTED LCL FSS; DERIDDER (122.2) AND REQUESTED INFO ABOUT WX FROM AND BTWN DELHI; LA; AND FT SMITH. I WAS INFORMED THAT A STALLED STATIONARY FRONT INCLUDED FT SMITH; AR; AND CURRENT CONDITIONS WERE IFR. I DEPARTED DELHI UNDER VFR CONDITIONS. VFR CONDITIONS EXISTED UNTIL 90-100 MI S OF FT SMITH. I TRACKED THE WX VIA NUMEROUS AWOS/ASOS RPTS DURING FLT. A CRITICAL DECISION FOSTERED BY 'I GOTTA GET THERE'ITIS WAS MADE AT 'HOT SPRINGS.' HOT SPRINGS RPTED MARGINAL VFR. I CONTINUED TOWARDS FT SMITH BELIEVING THAT CONDITIONS WOULD SURELY IMPROVE. THERE WAS FREQUENT BREAKS AND CONDITIONS REMAINED MARGINAL VFR TILL 30-40 MI S OF FT SMITH. WX RAPIDLY DETERIORATED AND I HAD TO BE VECTORED AROUND A TSTM. I KNEW AT THIS POINT THAT I HAD MADE A WRONG DECISION. I WAS NOW RISKING MY LIFE AND WAS WISHING I HAD LANDED IN HOT SPRINGS. I RECEIVED WX INFO PER SALLISAW; OK; CEILINGS OF 1000 FT NOTED. I ATTEMPTED NDB APCH TO SALLISAW WITHOUT SUCCESS. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH APCH AND WITH 22-24 GALS OF FUEL I WAS GIVEN PERMISSION TO LAND WITH VECTORED ILS APCH AT FT SMITH; AR (FSM). WITH THE HELP OF AN EXPERIENCED PLT GIVING DIRECTION; A SAFE LNDG WAS PERFORMED. I HAVE BEEN FLYING FOR A NUMBER OF YRS. I LEARNED AN INVALUABLE LESSON OF HOW FAST WX CAN CLOSE IN; HOW STUPID IT IS TO 'ASSUME' THE WX WILL CLR. I IGNORED THE LAWS OF GA. I CAME OUT OF THIS SIT A BETTER AND SMARTER PLT. I HAVE STARTED PLANS TO ACHIEVE MY IFR TICKET IN THE NEXT 2 MONTHS. I USED VERY POOR JUDGEMENT; A DECISION I FEEL WAS PRESSURED BY THE FACT I HAD A COMMERCIAL PLANE TO CATCH AT XD30.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.