C172 PVT PLT ENCOUNTERS IMC ON A VFR FLT.

Narrative

I INADVERTENTLY ENTERED IMC WHILE CLBING THROUGH 8500 FT FOR 10500 FT MSL. I WAS NOT TRYING TO 'PUNCH THROUGH' AN OVCST LAYER; RATHER I WAS ATTEMPTING TO CLB THROUGH AN APPROX 1 MI DIAMETER OPENING IN THE CLOUDS INTO CLR BLUE SKY CONDITIONS VISIBLE AT APPROX 9000 FT MSL. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN A VISUAL REF WITH THE GND DURING THE CLB. THE PROB AROSE WHEN I REALIZED THAT THE CLB PERFORMANCE OF THE C172 WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO MAINTAIN CLOUD CLRNC WITH A STRAIGHT AND LEVEL CLB. I BEGAN A CIRCLING CLB; DURING WHICH I LOST VISUAL REF WITH THE GND. I WAS NOT IN THE CLOUDS; HOWEVER; WITH CLOUDS ALL AROUND ME; I QUICKLY BECAME DISORIENTED IN RELATION TO MY DISTANCE FROM CLOUDS. I DECIDED TO ABORT THE CLB BUT SOON THEREAFTER ENTERED IMC. DURING THE ENSUING SPATIAL DISORIENTATION; I MANAGED TO RECOVER WINGS LEVEL; AND LUCKILY BROKE OUT INTO THE CLR; AFTER WHICH I RESUMED MY ORIGINAL COURSE WBOUND AND REMAINED AT LEAST 1 MI FROM ANY CLOUDS. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE LOSS OF VISUAL REF WITH THE GND; AND FAILURE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE ACFT'S CLB PERFORMANCE. HUMAN PERFORMANCE CONSIDERATIONS INCLUDED THE INITIAL PERCEPTION THAT A STRAIGHT AND LEVEL CLB INTO CLR CONDITIONS ABOVE THE CLOUDS WAS POSSIBLE; AND THE LATER DECISION TO ATTEMPT A CIRCLING CLB RATHER THAN IMMEDIATELY ABORT THE CLB. MY JUDGEMENT THAT MAINTAINING 2000 FT HORIZLY FROM THE CLOUDS WOULD NOT BE A PROB; EVEN IN A CIRCLING CLB; WAS POOR AND ULTIMATELY WRONG.