Pilot of small aircraft encountered icing on wings. Unable to obtain clearance to descend. Advised center he could not maintain altitude. Had to descend from 7000 to 6800 broke out of overcast and shed ice.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	190935
Time
Date	199109
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lhy
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6800 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny tower : osh
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zny
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 340 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	190935
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Departed N54 on IFR flight plan to oqu. Requested 9000 ft cruise. Was held to 7000 and 8000 as flight progressed north as assigned to lake henry, (PA) VOR. Had passed through and near scattered puffy clouds. Forecast was for scattered. When cleared to 9000 as requested began to get icing on windshield and leading edges of wings (rime). Reported icing to ATC and requested higher or lower, but the cloud began to get darker. Was cleared back to 7000, still solid IMC. Reported to ATC still needed lower, solid IMC, still in icing conditions. ATC answered with 'maintain 7000.' I answered something like 'unable, icing, must descend, leaving 7000.' I began my descent, broke out at 6800, was cleared very soon thereafter to 6000 and then to 5000 for remainder of flight. I felt I must descend to get out of icing conditions even though ATC told me to maintain 7000. The condition I encountered was not forecast and I could not see it ahead so I do not have any recommendation on how to avoid it in the future. I remained on my assigned route at all times.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA ENCOUNTERED ICING ON WINGS. UNABLE TO OBTAIN CLRNC TO DSND. ADVISED CENTER HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALT. HAD TO DSND FROM 7000 TO 6800 BROKE OUT OF OVCST AND SHED ICE.

Narrative: DEPARTED N54 ON IFR FLT PLAN TO OQU. REQUESTED 9000 FT CRUISE. WAS HELD TO 7000 AND 8000 AS FLT PROGRESSED N AS ASSIGNED TO LAKE HENRY, (PA) VOR. HAD PASSED THROUGH AND NEAR SCATTERED PUFFY CLOUDS. FORECAST WAS FOR SCATTERED. WHEN CLRED TO 9000 AS REQUESTED BEGAN TO GET ICING ON WINDSHIELD AND LEADING EDGES OF WINGS (RIME). RPTED ICING TO ATC AND REQUESTED HIGHER OR LOWER, BUT THE CLOUD BEGAN TO GET DARKER. WAS CLRED BACK TO 7000, STILL SOLID IMC. RPTED TO ATC STILL NEEDED LOWER, SOLID IMC, STILL IN ICING CONDITIONS. ATC ANSWERED WITH 'MAINTAIN 7000.' I ANSWERED SOMETHING LIKE 'UNABLE, ICING, MUST DSND, LEAVING 7000.' I BEGAN MY DSCNT, BROKE OUT AT 6800, WAS CLRED VERY SOON THEREAFTER TO 6000 AND THEN TO 5000 FOR REMAINDER OF FLT. I FELT I MUST DSND TO GET OUT OF ICING CONDITIONS EVEN THOUGH ATC TOLD ME TO MAINTAIN 7000. THE CONDITION I ENCOUNTERED WAS NOT FORECAST AND I COULD NOT SEE IT AHEAD SO I DO NOT HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATION ON HOW TO AVOID IT IN THE FUTURE. I REMAINED ON MY ASSIGNED RTE AT ALL TIMES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.