On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 01:24:01 GMT, Matt Whiting wrote:

I would not consider the situation I encountered a bad piloting decision
with the information I had in hand from startup to 50 miles out.

I would. Flying over a solid layer such that you can't easily know what
is happening below or even knowing if you can find a hole to descend
through shows bad judgement and is bad piloting in my opinion,

Everybody is naturally entitled to their opinion :-)

unless
there is a really compelling reason to take this significant risk.
There are situations that warrant that, but you didn't give any
information as to any circumstance that would warrant this level of risk
taking by a non-instrument rated pilot.

What situation would warrant you to waiver from what you are telling me is
an unsafe decision?

If it's unsafe based on your opinion, then it is unsafe for any reason, no
matter how compelling and one should drive instead.

Allen