How to handle "accidently" flying into IMC as a VFR Pilot?

Question

So lets say you accidently run into a cloud while flying as a VFR Pilot. How exactly do you go about handling this, as in, flying by instruments till you break the cloud layer?

You are in a C152 or C172, which instruments do you scan/check for a controlled descent so you don't enter a graveyard spiral?

Thanks!

Answer 1

The first thing is don't panic. Determine to make all your moves slowly. The best practice is to make a nice, slow 180 degree turn (generally at half rate) or an easy descent if you are certain about the terrain or obstacles below you. You want to watch your attitude, vertical speed, and turn coordinator. If need be, don't be afraid to contact ATC and let them know what's happened. They can be quite helpful sometimes in cases like this. Their main object is to help you out and not get you into legal trouble.

A good idea is to get a safety pilot to go along, put on the blinders, and practice these maneuvers in VFR conditions before you ever need them (or get your instrument rating).

If you brief yourself well on the weather and pay attention, it should be pretty hard to "accidentally" fly into IMC.

Answer 2

If  you are flying in the area where there are mountain are there then dont desend first of all dont panic at all immediatly start monitring the aritificial horizon or ADI what so ever is available and then  keep it wings level and and no angle of desent then after this check your altimeter that weather you have lost any hight or not then lost hight to be gained immediatly if in mountains if not then keep the ROD about 100 to 200 feet per min and desend out of the cloud if you know that this cloud will a small patch then no need of doing any thing just relax and wait for its crossing  Thanks