Cessna 150
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 6; Flight Crew Total 144; Flight Crew Type 144
Workload; Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion
Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Weather; Human Factors
Returning from short flight I suddenly encountered low clouds and [there] appeared to be instrument conditions ahead. Attempting to land at an alternate airport; I found the runway closed for an event. Making another 180 I found myself in instrument conditions; total white out. Remembering 'fly the plane' I decided to go higher and also noticed wings not level. I got that straightened out and kept climbing slowly. I was listening to CTAF for my destination. I radioed that I had a problem; Instrument Meteorology Conditions. The young lady in a minute or so got an experienced pilot on the radio. He questioned where I was; altitude; etc.; and suggested that I was; indeed; heading correctly. He said AWOS was showing >800 FT and suggested I descend slowly. After a few minutes the ground was visible; my heading to airport was correct so I made a very long base; then final and landed safely. Prior to flight I received complete briefing and during that briefing the Briefer and I decided to change my planned flight due to potential IMC conditions. The shorter; along the coast flight should have been clear according to forecast. The next day I got an instructor to review what I had done and suggest improvements.
A VFR C150 pilot received a preflight weather brief and changed his flight path but upon return to his departure airport he became IMC. With verbal assistance from another pilot he was able to descend below the clouds and safely land.