Narrative:

This event happened because of all my inexperience and greed and now I am confessing what I experienced. I am working on [a] commercial pilot course and the flight was for my long cross country from my home airport to rbg. It was cold day and also clear sky. I picked this day a few days prior. However; right before I took off; metar at rbg was MVFR. But the taf said it will be VFR when I get there; so I took off. I was cruising around 7500 ft and after passing eug; I was able to see thick cloud layer [in] front of me; but I kept going to rbg. At that moment; I should have done 180 degree [turn] and landed [at] eug. I was too greedy and full of the hazardous attitudes. Also; I didn't want to waste my money for the flight since I rent the aircraft. Getting close to rbg; I wanted to descend and [do a] touch and go at rbg. At that moment I was barely able to see the earth and I made a decision to descend because I thought I wouldn't have any chance to see the ground unless I descend now. After descending altitude; I realized that I'm in trouble because actually I was between the thick cloud layer and the cloud was moving and it was hard to see the earth. And I was able to tell that after descending; [to] around 6000 ft; there were dark clouds on the side of rbg. I was somehow maintaining clear [of] cloud but hard to see the earth and ATC gave me terrain alerts. At that point; I was right between rbg and eug; I wanted to complete this lesson; I didn't want to waste my money; so I had hard time making decision for what I have to do. Since it was really cold day; I absolutely expected I would get iced but I've never experienced; I've learned on the textbook only; so I didn't know how the icing would be serious. So I finally made a decision to request IFR clearance to go back eug with RNAV Y 34L since rbg side was really dark. ATC cleared me direct cross IAF ujoku with 4000 ft so I was descending from about 6000 ft to 4000 ft. On the direct and descending route; I had to encounter with clouds and I expected that the base of the cloud would be [higher] than 4000 ft so that I would be able to see the ground by that time. And since I've never experienced picking up ice on the aircraft; I expected I would be ok for descending with short period time. However; the reality was totally different with my expectation; the tire color turned to white and I was able to see the ice on the aircraft and even hear freezing sound on the windshield although I was wearing headsets. This situation got me panic but I tried to be relaxed. I tried. I finally descended to 4000 ft but still I was in the cloud; wasn't able to see anything with icing condition. My heart was beating like crazy and I asked to ATC for descending due to icing; but they said I can descend up to 2200 ft with emergency purpose only. So; I descended up to 2200 ft and finally I was able to see the ground; but it was very [rough] terrain area so I was really close to the ground and actually the cloud base was about 2300 ft. I kept continue maintain 2200 ft to IAF; and I made a safe landing at eug. After landing and taxiing they wanted me to copy down the phone number and I contacted with them and I explained the situation as much as I could at that time. They were glad me to land safely and took care of me really much going fly back to home. I really appreciate for the fact that I survived; actually I was really scared and panic so I thought I would die with icing condition. Now I am looking back and thinking that it was really meaningful lesson for my future; I learned a lot from that day; that day [made me] change myself regarding flight. Even though I wasn't able to finish my long cross country; I spent lots of money for renting and have to try one more time; I am so glad I survived and learned a lot.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 pilot reported flying VFR into IMC and encountering inflight icing due to hazardous attitudes.

Narrative: This event happened because of all my inexperience and greed and now I am confessing what I experienced. I am working on [a] commercial pilot course and the flight was for my long cross country from my home airport to RBG. It was cold day and also clear sky. I picked this day a few days prior. However; right before I took off; METAR at RBG was MVFR. But the TAF said it will be VFR when I get there; so I took off. I was cruising around 7500 ft and after passing EUG; I was able to see thick cloud layer [in] front of me; but I kept going to RBG. At that moment; I should have done 180 degree [turn] and landed [at] EUG. I was too greedy and full of the hazardous attitudes. Also; I didn't want to waste my money for the flight since I rent the aircraft. Getting close to RBG; I wanted to descend and [do a] touch and go at RBG. At that moment I was barely able to see the earth and I made a decision to descend because I thought I wouldn't have any chance to see the ground unless I descend now. After descending altitude; I realized that I'm in trouble because actually I was between the thick cloud layer and the cloud was moving and it was hard to see the earth. And I was able to tell that after descending; [to] around 6000 ft; there were dark clouds on the side of RBG. I was somehow maintaining clear [of] cloud but hard to see the earth and ATC gave me terrain alerts. At that point; I was right between RBG and EUG; I wanted to complete this lesson; I didn't want to waste my money; so I had hard time making decision for what I have to do. Since it was really cold day; I absolutely expected I would get iced but I've never experienced; I've learned on the textbook only; so I didn't know how the icing would be serious. So I finally made a decision to request IFR clearance to go back EUG with RNAV Y 34L since RBG side was really dark. ATC cleared me direct cross IAF UJOKU with 4000 ft so I was descending from about 6000 ft to 4000 ft. On the direct and descending route; I had to encounter with clouds and I expected that the base of the cloud would be [higher] than 4000 ft so that I would be able to see the ground by that time. And since I've never experienced picking up ice on the aircraft; I expected I would be ok for descending with short period time. However; the reality was totally different with my expectation; the tire color turned to white and I was able to see the ice on the aircraft and even hear freezing sound on the windshield although I was wearing headsets. This situation got me panic but I tried to be relaxed. I tried. I finally descended to 4000 ft but still I was in the cloud; wasn't able to see anything with icing condition. My heart was beating like crazy and I asked to ATC for descending due to icing; but they said I can descend up to 2200 ft with emergency purpose only. So; I descended up to 2200 ft and finally I was able to see the ground; but it was very [rough] terrain area so I was really close to the ground and actually the cloud base was about 2300 ft. I kept continue maintain 2200 ft to IAF; and I made a safe landing at EUG. After landing and taxiing they wanted me to copy down the phone number and I contacted with them and I explained the situation as much as I could at that time. They were glad me to land safely and took care of me really much going fly back to home. I really appreciate for the fact that I survived; actually I was really scared and panic so I thought I would die with icing condition. Now I am looking back and thinking that it was really meaningful lesson for my future; I learned a lot from that day; that day [made me] change myself regarding flight. Even though I wasn't able to finish my long cross country; I spent lots of money for renting and have to try one more time; I am so glad I survived and learned a lot.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.