Private pilot encounters icing in a night operation flying a C-172.

Attributes
ACN	293374
Time
Date	199412
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : huf
State Reference	IN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid tracon : huf
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other other other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute airway : zid
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 850 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	293374
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter other non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying a 172/U from nashville, tn, to chicago (cgx) on IFR plan in IMC. Near terre haute I encountered mixed rime ice, requested several lower altitudes, icing continued, then requested landing at terre haute. I realized that although I had approach plates for my departure area (southeast-1) and destination (ec-3) I did not have the plates for terre haute (ec-2). I informed approach and they provided the basic numbers. By this time I had discussed the icing numerous times and expected the vectors they gave me to be for a straight-in ILS approach. What I actually was instructed to do was a full procedure turn. This required some steep banking to avoid a full scale localizer deflection and missed approach, while all the time ice was accumulating on the plane. (The landing was successful.) lessons: IFR pilots should carry plates for any and all areas near their flight. Approach (ATC) should never direct any aircraft reporting icing to perform procedure turns or any maneuver requiring steep turns. Ice on aircraft produces elevated stall speeds, particularly when banking. Any but the most shallow of turns is an invitation to disaster!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT PLT ENCOUNTERS ICING IN A NIGHT OP FLYING A C-172.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING A 172/U FROM NASHVILLE, TN, TO CHICAGO (CGX) ON IFR PLAN IN IMC. NEAR TERRE HAUTE I ENCOUNTERED MIXED RIME ICE, REQUESTED SEVERAL LOWER ALTS, ICING CONTINUED, THEN REQUESTED LNDG AT TERRE HAUTE. I REALIZED THAT ALTHOUGH I HAD APCH PLATES FOR MY DEP AREA (SE-1) AND DEST (EC-3) I DID NOT HAVE THE PLATES FOR TERRE HAUTE (EC-2). I INFORMED APCH AND THEY PROVIDED THE BASIC NUMBERS. BY THIS TIME I HAD DISCUSSED THE ICING NUMEROUS TIMES AND EXPECTED THE VECTORS THEY GAVE ME TO BE FOR A STRAIGHT-IN ILS APCH. WHAT I ACTUALLY WAS INSTRUCTED TO DO WAS A FULL PROC TURN. THIS REQUIRED SOME STEEP BANKING TO AVOID A FULL SCALE LOC DEFLECTION AND MISSED APCH, WHILE ALL THE TIME ICE WAS ACCUMULATING ON THE PLANE. (THE LNDG WAS SUCCESSFUL.) LESSONS: IFR PLTS SHOULD CARRY PLATES FOR ANY AND ALL AREAS NEAR THEIR FLT. APCH (ATC) SHOULD NEVER DIRECT ANY ACFT RPTING ICING TO PERFORM PROC TURNS OR ANY MANEUVER REQUIRING STEEP TURNS. ICE ON ACFT PRODUCES ELEVATED STALL SPDS, PARTICULARLY WHEN BANKING. ANY BUT THE MOST SHALLOW OF TURNS IS AN INVITATION TO DISASTER!

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.