Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 4000; Flight Crew Type 350
Other / Unknown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Human Factors
Enroute to Racine; WI an IFR flight plan was filed to Gary; IN since IFR ATC services were not available from Chicago tracon.  I proceeded up the Chicago lakefront in marginal VFR conditions and entered instrument conditions without a clearance to do so.  When passing Kenosha; WI I contacted Milwaukee approach control and requested a pop up IFR clearance to Racine. Weather at RAC was reporting 800 overcast and 4 miles visibility. The MKE controller declined the request for IFR clearance stating they were not capable at that time.  The controller recommended landing visually since IFR services were not available. I stayed in contact with MKE approach control and explained I was intercepting the 04 ILS at RAC while flying the approach.  While intercepting and flying the approach I entered instrument (IMC) flight conditions without a clearance to do so.  Once in visual contact with runway 04 I advised ATC and switched to CTAF.  Phone call to MKE approach after landing indicated they could only accept phoned in flight plans due to the Chicago ARTCC facility outage.  They explained flight plans could only be entered manually and pop up clearances were not available.
C182 pilot reports being unable to obtain an IFR clearance enroute to RAC due an ATC equipment outage. The reporter elects to fly an instrument approach to RAC in IMC without a clearance.