Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35; Flight Crew Total 1250; Flight Crew Type 65
Situational Awareness; Distraction; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Airport; Weather
On the ground at BGM; I obtained ATIS; XA04z SPECI; 020/3 V6 BR BKN042 21/19 A3005; ILS 16 in use. Based on this ATIS I decided to try a VFR departure to 2;500 MSL. At 100 AGL on takeoff from Runway 16; I observed that the ceiling was not even close to BKN042 and was more like SCT/BKN 002; aka nearly ILS minimums. I contacted BGM Tower; stated I was unable to continue VFR; circled right for Runway 16; remained clear of clouds; and landed without incident. On landing I telephoned the BGM AWOS and obtained a report of SCT011. Neither one of these weather reports; not the ATIS recorded at XA04z and not the AWOS announcement obtained at about XB05z; was even close to the actual weather. I believe the root cause of the problem was an incorrect ATIS broadcast at BGM and an incorrect AWOS announcement at BGM. I believe the situation can be corrected by inspecting and repairing the BGM AWOS as required and then auditing and repairing the training for those recording the BGM ATIS as required.
After listening to AWOS; a pilot departed BGM VFR but discovered the ceiling to be SCT/BKN 002 and so he returned to the airport where he reported both the ATIS and AWOS were incorrect.