Cardinal 177/177RG
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 6; Flight Crew Total 838; Flight Crew Type 318
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Weather
I was flying VFR to airport ZZZ for avionics maintenance. Conditions at departure airport at the time of departure were VFR with a low (approximately 2;500 feet MSL) broken layer of clouds which were clearing; and a higher (approximately 5;000 feet MSL) overcast ceiling. Conditions were forecast to continue to improve. Conditions at a weather reporting station close to the destination; had been a low ceiling (1;000 feet) but had improved to a reported 1;400 feet at the time of departure; and were forecast to continue to improve. I expected the flight to involve flying at low altitudes to remain below the ceiling; but I was familiar with the area; and did not expect that to be a problem. What I found was worse than expected.After departure; I climbed to 2;500 feet and proceeded on course to the west. I flew through several very light showers; but visibility was good; and the ceiling remained high. After passing [25 NM west of departure]; I encountered a lowering ceiling; and began maneuvering around widely scattered clouds. The ATIS [nearby] reported rain and 900 foot ceiling; so I turned more to the south. I was able to continue along below the ceiling with good visibility while avoiding the low clouds. I received the ATIS [from airport ZZZ1; 55 NM to the west of departure] which was still reporting ceiling 1;400 feet with 10 miles visibility.As I passed [36 NM west of departure]; the ceiling continued to lower; so I descended and turned more southerly where the ceiling appeared higher; but the ceiling continued to lower; and I was now flying at 1;100 feet MSL. Unwilling to descend any lower I began to circle; looking for the higher ceiling reported ZZZ1. Unfortunately; the ceiling continued to lower; until I was completely in the clouds. I climbed to 1;500 feet MSL; contacted ZZZ1 Tower; [let them know what happened] and requested vectors to the airport which were provided. I was within 8 miles of the airport at that time.When ZZZ1 Tower reported that I was within 3 miles of the airport; I began a descent; and eventually broke out of the clouds at 1;100 feet MSL; well below the reported 1;400 foot ceiling. The landing was uneventful.I am filing this report because of the discrepancy between the reported weather and the actual conditions at ZZZ1. I do not think that I would have continued into the lowering ceiling if I had known the actual conditions at ZZZ1. However; I acknowledge that I should not have relied so much on weather conditions 30 miles ahead; but should have retreated when initially encountering conditions worse than expected. I consider myself lucky that conditions at ZZZ1 were not worse than they turned out to be.I was complacent because of my familiarity with the area; and the belief that conditions had improved as forecast. I was fortunate that I had the training necessary to maintain aircraft control after entering clouds. Otherwise I realize I could have been another continued VFR into IFR conditions accident report.
C177RG pilot reported inadvertently entering IMC conditions while enroute to an airport that was forecast for better weather.