Date: 201604
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZDC.ARTCC, VA
Weather elements / visibility: Rain; 10
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operator: Personal
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: VFR
Mission: Personal
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class E ZDC
ATC / advisory: Center ZDC
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Single Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Private
Human factors: Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Weather
Primary problem: Weather

Narrative: I was flying VFR from eastern Tennessee to eastern New York at a planned altitude of 17;500 ft to stay well above low scud. I had onboard weather using Foreflight; including SIGMETS and weather radar. I decided to go VFR on top due to the widespread area of clear skies friends from my destination had reported northeastward; so I had no worries about getting back down. About 40 minutes northeast after takeoff; the cloud tops started building upwards toward my altitude; including behind me. At this time I had flight following with possibly Indianapolis; but I do not remember specifically. I asked if I could request VFR temporarily higher and informed ATC I needed to climb to stay above the layer. I climbed to around 19;500 ft; and requested that ATC inform me of any hole in the layer through which I could land. I traveled to an area where the layer was lower; and descended back down to 17;500 ft. Avoiding the taller buildups had pushed me further east; close to DC. In the meantime; ATC was unable to verify any break in the layer through which I might land. I was turned over to Washington center; and started to get into another area of high cloud tops. I told them I may have to go above 17;500 ft to stay clear of the layers. I told ATC I thought I could pick my way through. In the meantime; ATC was looking for a break in the cloud deck through which I could land. In avoiding the buildups; which were primarily to the west; I inadvertently strayed into the western edge of the class A airspace over Washington. The controller pointed this out; and asked if I could safely take a specific vector; around 340; out of the airspace. I looked and there was faint blue horizon in that direction; so I said yes and immediately complied. From there; I was able to work my way north and then northeast to an area of much lower cloud tops. During this time; ATC informed me they still had found no breaks in the cloud deck locally. Since I had plenty of fuel and the cloud tops were now down around 12;000 ft or lower; I made the decision that the safest thing to do would be to proceed to destination; where the ceiling was still clear below 24;000 ft. I was turned over to New York center; and was asked if I still wanted them to look for a break in the layer. I told them no; I would proceed to destination. The conditions were now such that I could stay well above the cloud deck at 17;500 ft. I then proceeded to destination and landed.




Synopsis: C182 pilot on a VFR flight plan at 17;500 feet reported encountering cloud tops above his altitude and a solid under cast below. A request for climb into Class A is granted until the cloud tops are passed. Onboard weather using Foreflight; including SIGMETS and weather radar was in use.