Pilot of private small aircraft sel aircraft lost control of the aircraft due to aircraft icing and ...

Attributes
ACN	238640
Time
Date	199304
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : msp airport : stp
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : msp
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
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 : 210 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	238640
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

I received a briefing before the flight with PIREPS reporting icing 6000-9000 ft on climb out (medium large transport air carrier) from stp. I filed for 5000 ft to avoid ice. After takeoff from stp I received vectors through the TCA. Upon reaching 5000 ft I noticed ice forming on the wing struts. I asked for lower, ATC gave me 4000 ft. Having just been through 4000 ft I thought this would solve problem. It did not. Rime continued to form at a fairly fast rate. I again asked for lower. I was cleared to 3000 ft. Ice continued to form. I tried to climb only to find the plane was unable. I asked center to advise on an airport close with better conditions. I knew that maintaining airspeed was becoming critical, as the plane had stalled once. ATC gave me vectors to mankato. I was unable to maintain the last assigned altitude (3000 ft). At about 2600 ft MSL I noticed ground contact. I cancelled IFR, and continued to mankato and landed without event. The only prevention of these incidents are more frequent PIREPS by more pilots. If GA pilots are going to fly IFR we need help from the big boys. The ATC facilities did their job flawlessly and prevented a catastrophe.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF PVT SMA SEL ACFT LOST CTL OF THE ACFT DUE TO ACFT ICING AND DSNDED BELOW ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: I RECEIVED A BRIEFING BEFORE THE FLT WITH PIREPS RPTING ICING 6000-9000 FT ON CLBOUT (MLG ACR) FROM STP. I FILED FOR 5000 FT TO AVOID ICE. AFTER TKOF FROM STP I RECEIVED VECTORS THROUGH THE TCA. UPON REACHING 5000 FT I NOTICED ICE FORMING ON THE WING STRUTS. I ASKED FOR LOWER, ATC GAVE ME 4000 FT. HAVING JUST BEEN THROUGH 4000 FT I THOUGHT THIS WOULD SOLVE PROB. IT DID NOT. RIME CONTINUED TO FORM AT A FAIRLY FAST RATE. I AGAIN ASKED FOR LOWER. I WAS CLRED TO 3000 FT. ICE CONTINUED TO FORM. I TRIED TO CLB ONLY TO FIND THE PLANE WAS UNABLE. I ASKED CTR TO ADVISE ON AN ARPT CLOSE WITH BETTER CONDITIONS. I KNEW THAT MAINTAINING AIRSPD WAS BECOMING CRITICAL, AS THE PLANE HAD STALLED ONCE. ATC GAVE ME VECTORS TO MANKATO. I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN THE LAST ASSIGNED ALT (3000 FT). AT ABOUT 2600 FT MSL I NOTICED GND CONTACT. I CANCELLED IFR, AND CONTINUED TO MANKATO AND LANDED WITHOUT EVENT. THE ONLY PREVENTION OF THESE INCIDENTS ARE MORE FREQUENT PIREPS BY MORE PLTS. IF GA PLTS ARE GOING TO FLY IFR WE NEED HELP FROM THE BIG BOYS. THE ATC FACILITIES DID THEIR JOB FLAWLESSLY AND PREVENTED A CATASTROPHE.

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.

Pilot of private small aircraft sel aircraft lost control of the aircraft due to aircraft icing and descended below assigned altitude.