Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 16.3; Flight Crew Total 124.9; Flight Crew Type 54.3
Confusion; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter VFR In IMC
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Declared Emergency
Human Factors; Weather
I was on a VFR flight via VOR's along the route. I had obtained flight following shortly after departure. Ceilings were at 6;000 FT and I had a cruise altitude of 3;000 FT initially; [and] then climbed to 4;500 FT through the TRSA. I was unable to make radio contact with flight watch or a FSS while en route to obtain updated and current weather. Ceilings appeared to be rising; and visibility was 20+ NM. ATC informed me to climb to 7;500 FT to maintain radar service and radio contact; and I obliged. I continued my VFR route to the ZZZ VOR. While en route the ceilings began to drop and I noticed small clouds forming like fog on the ground. The small clouds on the ground became more expansive over the next 15 minutes; so I looked around to see if there were better VFR conditions in the immediate surrounding area. I decided to head southeast and descend to 5;500 FT to find more favorable conditions; but was met with a rapidly deteriorating weather condition. Visibility went from 20+ to 10 NM and I found myself being enclosed by clouds. I stayed at 5;500 FT on my current heading and asked ATC if they saw any better VFR conditions; because I was losing VFR and rapidly entering IMC.I then asked what the weather looked like eastward (to see if ATC could vector me through the clouds to help me land at another airport). ATC came back to me and stated that all airports/airfields are in IFR conditions and it would be better to turn around and climb to 7;500 FT for obstruction avoidance. I obeyed ATC's instructions and found that conditions behind me and in front had deteriorated into IFR conditions. I kept the aircraft straight and level on a 255 degree heading. IFR conditions persisted and ATC declared an EMERGENCY for me. IFR conditions persisted for approximately 30 minutes after that; and approximately 30 NM from [my destination] I was in VFR conditions and ATC stated they are stopping the emergency and I should maintain VFR to my destination. I maintained VFR until I landed.Contributing Factors: Rapidly changing weather; weather was different than forecast.My Perception: clouds 'looked' like they were maintaining current altitude; but were changing. I did not have a lot of experience dealing with rapidly changing weather; and I made the decision to not push through to an IFR airport and turn around (with ATC help) to VFR conditions.Lessons Learned: Do not fly if weather forecasts; reports/conditions do not match what is going on outside. This could indicate unstable weather that can change rapidly and put the pilot in a dangerous situation.
PA-28 pilot entered IMC conditions during VMC flight.