In article ,
Ron Rosenfeld wrote:
On Tue, 13 Sep 2005 16:34:11 -0400, "pgbnh" wrote:

If I am flying VMC,
other than simulated (with appropriate SP), then flying by instrument
reference is wrong (and stupid).

Except for a moonless. cloudy night over water (or desert), where you may
be legal VFR, but with no outside references.

Been there. Done that. I agree.

It is actually possible to have IMC with no clouds around at all.
Out here in the desert southwest (NM, AZ), on a moonless night away from
the cities and towns, the ground is, quite literally, invisible. No lights.
No roads. No nothin'. It's pitch black. And given the irregularity of the
horizon due to mountains and hills, it's almost impossible to tell if you're
level by looking outside and trying to judge the horizon by the stars.

While it may be technically VMC, and "legal" VFR, it's not safe.
Filing IFR and "going on the gauges" is the right thing to do in that case.

-- Dane