"Harry M." wrote in message
...
... Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC)
prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight
plan was filed...


... the private-rated pilot, the sole
occupant, was not injured.


Private-rated pilot flying IFR in IMC? How does this work? Can/should an
IFR student do this?

No, not supposed to. But the report may be wrong and he might have the
instrument rating. I paid more attention to the part about him not trying
the alternate static source and about the water between the alternate source
valve and the primary static source.

From the report it sounded like he got sufficiently flustered that,
regardless of the cause or possible trivial remedy, the chute was his best
option. If this is the case then I would question his training and
currency.