SR20
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40; Flight Crew Total 240; Flight Crew Type 160
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
We departed for a VFR flight out to the [usual] practice area. We picked up a local IFR clearance so we could climb VFR-on-top and get out of the clouds so we could complete the maneuvers that the specific lesson required in the Commercial Single-Engine add on course. We eventually found a large hole in the clouds and decided to cancel our local IFR clearance and fly VFR. We proceeded with our maneuvers and once finished we contacted approach because we wanted to get a local IFR clearance back into [home airport] and shoot the ILS 23R back in. They proceeded to give us a heading and vectors for the approach. We then proceeded to enter IMC conditions with the thought that we had picked up a Local IFR clearance. Several minutes later we asked for a different altitude and the controller proceeded to say VFR altitude your discretion. I then realized that there was a miscommunication between the controller and our aircraft and that we hadn't actually picked up a Local IFR clearance. The clouds were patchy; so we held our altitude and heading and once we found a hole and could see the ground we immediately made corrective action to exit IMC and regain VMC which we did in a very safe manner. I believe there was a miscommunication between the Controller and our aircraft and that this easily could have been prevented if both ATC and our aircraft would have questioned each other because we were both aware of the weather at the time of the incident. In order to prevent a recurrence of this event; I should from now on ask the ATC controller what kind of clearance I am receiving and furthermore have him state that you are receiving an IFR clearance.
An instructor pilot in a SR20 reported that after providing instruction in VFR conditions; attempted to request a local IFR clearance to the home airport with broken cloud cover. After entering instrument conditions; the instructor realized that due to a miscommunication with ATC; an IFR clearance had not been received.