Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Training / Qualification; Physiological - Other; Situational Awareness
Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Weather; Human Factors
I believe the main cause of the problem was I lost control of the aircraft when I was following vector heading direction. I was completely in the cloud for 10 to 15 minutes. I got disoriented and the plane was descending and I was able to recover from the unusual altitude when I see the lights from the city at about 3;000 feet. Luckily; NORCAL Approach was able to amend me with VFR. I requested to head to Embassy Suite VFR check point to avoid from busy SJC airspace. Controller was kind enough to accommodate my request. Finally; I landed airplane safely.
C172 pilot reports becoming disoriented in IMC and being assisted by NCT with vectors to a safe landing.