An small aircraft GA pilot was denied the altitude below icing conditions that he requested. He flew into icing and was unable to maintain altitude and so departed his assigned altitude. He landed short of his destination to thaw out.

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Attributes
ACN	208364
Time
Date	199204
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rwn
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 500 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zau tower : mdw artcc : zjx
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other landing other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zau
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 9 flight time total : 300 flight time type : 118
ASRS Report	208364
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

I thought I had planned the flight very well. FSS had no reports of icing, and the forecast had possible icing above 6500 ft. I filed for 3000 ft. Clearance gave 5000 ft as a final cruising altitude. While climbing to 5000 no ice was detected in clouds. Flight was to be from mdw to day. 10-15 mi west of winamac, in, ice began to build on the wings after 1/2 hour of IMC. Requested lower and received 3000 ft. Ice continued to build and pitot iced over despite pitot heat. Began to lose altitude, informed center, and was able to stabilize (stop) descent at 1100 ft. Proceeded to arens and closed IFR flight plan on ground. Center could not hear my radio, and another plane relayed. I am a newly rated instrument pilot and made what I think to be 2 major mistakes. I put too much faith in forecast for icing levels and didn't turn on pitot heat soon enough. Although I think I handled the plane well, the iced pitot was one more 'contributing factor' I didn't need.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA GA PLT WAS DENIED THE ALT BELOW ICING CONDITIONS THAT HE REQUESTED. HE FLEW INTO ICING AND WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT AND SO DEPARTED HIS ASSIGNED ALT. HE LANDED SHORT OF HIS DEST TO THAW OUT.

Narrative: I THOUGHT I HAD PLANNED THE FLT VERY WELL. FSS HAD NO RPTS OF ICING, AND THE FORECAST HAD POSSIBLE ICING ABOVE 6500 FT. I FILED FOR 3000 FT. CLRNC GAVE 5000 FT AS A FINAL CRUISING ALT. WHILE CLBING TO 5000 NO ICE WAS DETECTED IN CLOUDS. FLT WAS TO BE FROM MDW TO DAY. 10-15 MI W OF WINAMAC, IN, ICE BEGAN TO BUILD ON THE WINGS AFTER 1/2 HR OF IMC. REQUESTED LOWER AND RECEIVED 3000 FT. ICE CONTINUED TO BUILD AND PITOT ICED OVER DESPITE PITOT HEAT. BEGAN TO LOSE ALT, INFORMED CTR, AND WAS ABLE TO STABILIZE (STOP) DSCNT AT 1100 FT. PROCEEDED TO ARENS AND CLOSED IFR FLT PLAN ON GND. CTR COULD NOT HEAR MY RADIO, AND ANOTHER PLANE RELAYED. I AM A NEWLY RATED INST PLT AND MADE WHAT I THINK TO BE 2 MAJOR MISTAKES. I PUT TOO MUCH FAITH IN FORECAST FOR ICING LEVELS AND DIDN'T TURN ON PITOT HEAT SOON ENOUGH. ALTHOUGH I THINK I HANDLED THE PLANE WELL, THE ICED PITOT WAS ONE MORE 'CONTRIBUTING FACTOR' I DIDN'T NEED.

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.