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While climbing IFR, reporter encountered ice, attempted to contact approach and, when unable, commenced descent without awaiting clearance.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 286792 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199410 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : gij airport : ord |
| State Reference | IN |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : sbn |
| Operator | general aviation : instructional |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | cruise other descent other |
| Route In Use | enroute airway : zau |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 700 flight time type : 300 |
| ASRS Report | 286792 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance |
| Independent Detector | other other : unspecified cockpit |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued new clearance flight crew : exited adverse environment other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Weather |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
I was at approximately 4000 ft climbing to an assigned altitude of 7000 ft when I began to pick up ice. I reported the ice to chicago ATC. Shortly thereafter, chicago handed me off to south bend approach. During my initial call to south bend, I began to pick up ice quite rapidly. My call was unanswered and I tried 3 more times to contact south bend. Though I could hear south bend talking with other aircraft, my calls were never answered. During this time I'd reached about 6000 ft and was unable to climb any higher due to the ice. I initiated a descent and attempted to recontact chicago ATC. Chicago answered my call immediately and criticized me for descending. I explained my problem and was cleared for a lower altitude below the clouds. Again chicago handed me off to south bend on the same frequency I'd tried earlier. This time communication with south bend proceeded normally. I apologized to south bend for my descent and was advised in the future to try everything I can to maintain altitude. I agree that I should have attempted to contact chicago before descending. I blame my inexperience with real icing conditions for precipitating a mild panic on my part which kept me from trying all other alternatives before descending.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: WHILE CLBING IFR, RPTR ENCOUNTERED ICE, ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT APCH AND, WHEN UNABLE, COMMENCED DSCNT WITHOUT AWAITING CLRNC.
Narrative: I WAS AT APPROX 4000 FT CLBING TO AN ASSIGNED ALT OF 7000 FT WHEN I BEGAN TO PICK UP ICE. I RPTED THE ICE TO CHICAGO ATC. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, CHICAGO HANDED ME OFF TO SOUTH BEND APCH. DURING MY INITIAL CALL TO SOUTH BEND, I BEGAN TO PICK UP ICE QUITE RAPIDLY. MY CALL WAS UNANSWERED AND I TRIED 3 MORE TIMES TO CONTACT SOUTH BEND. THOUGH I COULD HEAR SOUTH BEND TALKING WITH OTHER ACFT, MY CALLS WERE NEVER ANSWERED. DURING THIS TIME I'D REACHED ABOUT 6000 FT AND WAS UNABLE TO CLB ANY HIGHER DUE TO THE ICE. I INITIATED A DSCNT AND ATTEMPTED TO RECONTACT CHICAGO ATC. CHICAGO ANSWERED MY CALL IMMEDIATELY AND CRITICIZED ME FOR DSNDING. I EXPLAINED MY PROB AND WAS CLRED FOR A LOWER ALT BELOW THE CLOUDS. AGAIN CHICAGO HANDED ME OFF TO SOUTH BEND ON THE SAME FREQ I'D TRIED EARLIER. THIS TIME COM WITH SOUTH BEND PROCEEDED NORMALLY. I APOLOGIZED TO SOUTH BEND FOR MY DSCNT AND WAS ADVISED IN THE FUTURE TO TRY EVERYTHING I CAN TO MAINTAIN ALT. I AGREE THAT I SHOULD HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT CHICAGO BEFORE DSNDING. I BLAME MY INEXPERIENCE WITH REAL ICING CONDITIONS FOR PRECIPITATING A MILD PANIC ON MY PART WHICH KEPT ME FROM TRYING ALL OTHER ALTERNATIVES BEFORE DSNDING.
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.