Cheetah; Tiger; Traveler AA5 Series
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 18; Flight Crew Total 660; Flight Crew Type 450
Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown; Physiological - Other; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Human Factors; Weather
I departed ZZZ [in the afternoon]. I had checked the weather and determined it was clear below 6;500 ft. to ZZZ1; with the exception of the area right around JFK; which reported MVFR conditions with multiple layers of clouds. No worries; I thought; I would request a route south of JFK; even if it meant I would be over the water more than I felt comfortable with. For some reason I felt a huge pressure to make this flight; I wanted to see the mechanic scheduled to do our annual in a few weeks and have him check the plane over quickly so he could get ahead of any part ordering. Whatever the urgency; I soon would reverse my position on how important it really was. Shortly after departing ZZZ; I called for flight following and requested 4;500 ft. I believe I expressed my hope to stay well south if possible to stay out of MVFR conditions. I was handed off to another Controller and cleared into the Bravo. This Controller however instructed me to turn direct to Kennedy (JFK) and climb to 6;500 ft. I should have simply replied unable; as I know the weather was sketchy toward Kennedy but for some unexplainable reason I complied. Soon; I was struggling to maintain VFR conditions. The Controller was quite busy and I was also quite busy trying to stay in legal conditions and control the aircraft. Then it all fell apart and I was truly in unacceptable visual conditions. Trying not panic; I used the autopilot to keep the plane in control and requested lower. ATC advised me I could not go lower and suggested I climb. I attempted to climb out of the poor visual conditions but things only became worse. It seemed like quite a long time; probably 10 minutes with truly inadequate visibility. Then the unthinkable happened; I became disoriented. I began to descend rapidly; airspeed increasing and although I recognized what was happening; I could not correct the situation without adequate visual cues. It was a life changing event. It could happen to me after all! I had never come close to losing control of my aircraft before. I am usually very conservative; both with my flight planning and in controlling 'get-there-itus'; and yet here I was endangering myself and probably others. I was furious and ashamed of myself (and scared too). I came out of the clouds around 2;400 ft. and brought the wings level and slowly pulled back. ATC admonished me and I told him 'I became disoriented'. He said; let's try again and directed me back to JFK; this time a little lower. I complied again and this time was lucky enough to remain clear of clouds and soon after was granted lower still and proceeded direct to ZZZ1 without incident. I did some serious thinking after this flight on how I got myself into the situation in the first place; and how I should have avoided it. I knew that below 3;000 ft. there was no problem with visibility. The first Controller asked me if I wanted to go through the Hudson River corridor and then low along the Jersey shore. That would have been the obvious best choice given the weather. I was south of the CT coast at that point and he switched his suggestion a little asking if I knew where McAllister park was. I think he was going to just bring me low off the coast of NY; but I did not [know] that landmark and that's when I said I would go direct; hoping to keep south of the visibility. Terrible decision. I should have suggested I overfly HPN and enter the north side of the corridor at 1;300 ft. I was familiar with that route and landmarks. It would have been the safe decision. I learned that ATC does not have a clear picture of visibility conditions (or the Controller would not have sent me direct to JFK). Controllers may be aware of convective events but visibility is purely the pilot's responsibility. I decided it was time to shake off complacency and went to my first FAAST meeting in a number of years. It was totally worthwhile. I clearly did not understand how compromised visibility was in the New York Area that afternoon untilit was too late. I will never fail to call out 'unable' again.
Pilot reported becoming disoriented after entering IMC; resulting in loss of aircraft control and a rapid descent until clear of clouds.