M-20 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 12; Flight Crew Total 1230; Flight Crew Type 400
Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Procedure; Weather
After 6 hours of flying enroute; currently flying at 3500 MSL; I approached some low; thin clouds and what appeared to be very light rain. The visibility was still at least 10 miles under the cloud base. After a few minutes flying under the cloud base still in VFR conditions; a very light rain began. This lowered the visibility and I requested a lower altitude with Center which was approved. The conditions still didn't improve and I didn't want to push by going lower. At this point the prudent thing to do was a course reversal and go back to clear weather. I initiated a climb reasoning that the clouds looked so thin that in a minute or so I would be VFR ON TOP so I contacted Center with my intentions. I held my heading as I gained altitude but didn't get above the clouds after a few thousand feet. At this point Center asked if I was in IFR conditions and I said 'yes.' I also said I would now begin my course reversal as I continued to climb. After several minutes Center wanted to know if the airplane was IFR equipped and I said 'yes.' I was then asked if I was IFR current and I said 'no.' I was above the clouds at 10;500 ft. and flying toward VFR conditions and an airport. Center then informed me that there is no such thing as 'VFR on Top' and asked for my intentions. I said I would fly back to an airport and land which was in VFR conditions to allow the weather to pass. The airport was about 15 miles away. Five miles from the airport I asked for a descent because I was VFR with good visibility to the ground. Center approved and I flew to the airport and landed. I contacted Center before I shut down and let them know I was at the FBO. The controller thanked me and suggested that should it happen again to contact Center sooner rather than later. I fueled the plane and after 20 minutes the weather cleared in the direction I was going and I completed a 30 minute flight to my destination.Corrective Actions: In hindsight; I should have done a course reversal sooner and without climbing. It would have taken only a minute or so and I still had plenty of altitude for obstacle clearance. I misjudged what looked like very thin; flat clouds and felt that by climbing I was adding an extra margin of safety to the course reversal.
M20 pilot reported encountering IMC conditions while flying VFR. He elected to divert to an enroute field and wait for the weather to pass before continuing to his destination.