No need to apologize jamesf, was just screwing with you. Welcome to APC! Bet you never try that again. I'm just glad I have never done anything stupid like that, Oh wait a minute...

 

Great story. This shows how the limited amount of hood training you had with your instructors kicked in and worked. Also, you made a decision and worked through it. Some can't. It wasn't panic, it was good stress. This may have been your first IMC, not intended, and alone without instructor. You'd be fool if you weren't feeling the things you described. Lastly, you are learning from your experience. You'll love instrument training as it will build skill and confidence. Get back on the horse asap and have fun!

Consider sharing with AOPA, they would love it and may make a "real pilot story" about it.

PS: If you have a comm II, monitor ATIS as far ahead (if possible) as you can; it will help those surprises...

 

It's nice to have someone who is honest when called out on an in consistency.

 

Turning off the squelch may get you the ATIS further out, albeit painfully.

 

No, you didn't have a panic attack. You did what a pilot should - and flew the plane, trusted your instruments, and got assistance to the ground. Those 3 hours of simulated paid off nicely.

After a similar incident (rural area at sunset, odd mist made horizon impossible to see, had to be essentially on instruments for 10 minutes, total JFK scenario) I got my instrument training right after PPL. My pulse and blood pressure were through the roof when it happened too. If you are using the plane for any sort of "practical" purpose it is more than a good idea.

I've said it before but I think that the well-meaning aviation community scares VFR pilots too much, and this could lead to deaths due to panic. Obviously it is not something to be taken lightly at all, but in the rare case VMC turns marginal, use the tools you have to get out of there safely and rapidly. It is an emergency, but don't panic.

 

[QUOTE=N9373M;1637523]There is nothing to be ashamed about - experience is what you get when you're looking for something else.


The good:
Had the situational awareness about the rising terrain
Aviate, Navigate, Communicate
Knew you had to get above the deck - I've lost friends scud running

+1. ...and once when flying night freight I found a wrecked airplane at the approach end of the runway in which an instructor had been teaching a student in low IFR at night at an uncontrolled/unmonitored airport. Thinking back on those guys, they did not have the right attitude like you do - try and keep it for your whole flying career and you should be OK. Glad you made it.

RR

 

Jamesf, learn from it, and if you continue your training, and one day become a CFI, use your experience to teach your brand new private students. When I taught private pilots, before they soloed I always made sure they had at least 5 hours of ACTUAL instrument, simulated or hood work would not suffice for my sign off. There is not one pilot with a decent amount of experience who has not been scared once or twice, so don't let it end your flying if it's what you really want to do, after some experience flying in IMC will be no more difficult than flying VMC.
Good luck