PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 60; Flight Crew Total 2500; Flight Crew Type 200
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Weather; Aircraft
Flying direct to ZZZ I had an iPad drop off the side window and I bent down to pick it up. Unfortunately the screen cracked and I attempted to assess the damage as well as re-mount it to the window. As I did this; the aircraft (no autopilot) inadvertently descended into a cloud layer I'd had intentions of passing over (I was within VFR mins above it) and suddenly I was IMC. I had mountainous terrain below; so I couldn't immediately descend; I tried climbing back to 10;500 feet; but at that point was still in the cloud. The airplane being a single engine piston I didn't have extra power to climb much higher so I watched my map closely to ensure I was moving past terrain; then began a descent. I advised ATC because I wanted to be sure I was heard in case something happened (ATC can't talk with me where I was due to rad and radio limitations from terrain). I descended and noticed my windscreen was icing up; and the wings began accumulate icing also. I continued descent until under the cloud layer and was able to safely land aircraft without incident.
Piper pilot reported encountering IMC during VFR flight in mountainous location.