Pilot X had always had a love of adventure.
As a child he had his hero in Biggles and these heros of the past had influenced his dreams of being like them.
At a later stage in his life he took up flying. he was a slow student taking 70 hrs to achieve his NPPL (M) His instructor had concerns about pilot Xs natural ability. But Pilot X blotted out those concerns as nothing would ruin his dreams.
Nevertheless once armed with a licence Pilot X was now equipt to live out those dreams.
He had a need to visit Scotland and with this in mind hatched a plan to fly himself there.
Taking advice he was warned about a front which may cause him problems but reckoned he could beat this front before it arrived from the west.
Having said he was a slow learner there were many gaps in his knowledge but he had a licence he had an aircraft and off he jolly well would go.
At first all was OK he trundeled along VFR at 2500 to 3000 feet where most microlight type aircraft operated. Pilot X was enjoying himself and imagined the route would be the same all the way.
Further along the track he was alarmed that the visibility had dropped and that his aircraft was punching through bits of scud cloud. he climbed and suddenly the visibility was good he was VFR with good sight of the ground way below. He felt like a serious pilot, good descision to climb he relaxed and enjoyed the flight again.
Blast that cloud he had climbed over had joined him again, had got thicker and the holes were not as frequent.
He had no cloud flying ability and in desperation climbed again trying to stay visual. He calmed himself with the thought that this was localised and would improve ahead.
Easy to drop down again when things improved so he plodded on.
Talking to Scottish they cleared him at FL80. He was alarmed as the RT started to sound unfamiliar and he didnt want to sound like an idiot. Blast again the clouds were again touching him. He instinctively pulled back and was at FL83. Pilot X asked for higher and was offered FL100.
He was in a mess and he knew it but to admit it would be to admit to himself that he wasnt up to the job. He would try and bluff his way a bit longer.
he was starting to panic with all the unfamiliar RT and knew he was flying in conditions where he was out of his depth. he was stressed out could not think clearely.
Low and behold he saw a gap and the ground. His overwhelming desire was to get down under the cloud and back in his comfort zone. God he wished he was on the ground.
" Cleared to FL70 " Pilot X panicked FL70 was not enough he need to be VFR and fast. He descended and carried on while scaring himself in clouds past FL70 and on down.
Pilot X was told to contact Edinburugh but by know all his mental capacity was involved in flying the aircraft. He was equally scared to talk to someone who would tell him to do something he didnt want to do again.
Pilot X was now so confused that his overwhelming desire was to get on the ground. His mind was fuddled, basic stuff he knew no longer registered. He was in a slow horror movie where he had become a passenger not the pilot. He reacted to events and did not control them...........
Maybe not the chain of events but a typical chain of events which show how important it is to fly within your own and the aircrafts capability and if you do get a situation you cannot handle to tell ATC who will help. Pride can be a misplaced attitude......
Pace