Small aircraft descended below assigned due to icing.

Attributes
ACN	234229
Time
Date	199302
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ama
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4500 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : ama artcc : lecm
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	descent other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 400 flight time type : 60
ASRS Report	234229
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

Flying IFR from E98 to tdw, descended from 10000 ft to 8000 ft. Outside temperature plus 4 degrees C with rain. Received automated observation from ama approach, drizzle rain and 5 mi with 1000 ft ceiling. Descended to 6000 ft and incurred severe icing. Request 5000 ft, still in clouds and severe icing. Requested straight-in to ama. Cleared, requested lower due to icing, told would be below approachs 5000 ft, but to descend to the necessary altitude to do what I needed to do. Went to 4500 ft, broke out in the clear. Cancelled IFR and told ama was landing at tdw. Was asked if I wanted to declare emergency but declined. All time was told all temperatures and levels clear of ice.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA DSNDED BELOW ASSIGNED DUE TO ICING.

Narrative: FLYING IFR FROM E98 TO TDW, DSNDED FROM 10000 FT TO 8000 FT. OUTSIDE TEMP PLUS 4 DEGS C WITH RAIN. RECEIVED AUTOMATED OBSERVATION FROM AMA APCH, DRIZZLE RAIN AND 5 MI WITH 1000 FT CEILING. DSNDED TO 6000 FT AND INCURRED SEVERE ICING. REQUEST 5000 FT, STILL IN CLOUDS AND SEVERE ICING. REQUESTED STRAIGHT-IN TO AMA. CLRED, REQUESTED LOWER DUE TO ICING, TOLD WOULD BE BELOW APCHS 5000 FT, BUT TO DSND TO THE NECESSARY ALT TO DO WHAT I NEEDED TO DO. WENT TO 4500 FT, BROKE OUT IN THE CLR. CANCELLED IFR AND TOLD AMA WAS LNDG AT TDW. WAS ASKED IF I WANTED TO DECLARE EMER BUT DECLINED. ALL TIME WAS TOLD ALL TEMPS AND LEVELS CLR OF ICE.

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.