Large transport was deiced with the wrong fluid for the type of WX condition.

Attributes
ACN	293450
Time
Date	199501
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pit
State Reference	PA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : preflight ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 1309
ASRS Report	293450
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

After landing in pit from sea, a preflight inspection revealed that very light rain was freezing upon contact with the cold soaked wing but not on the fuselage or ground and other equipment. I reported this to the captain and confirmed it upon a second check. The temperature was above freezing and the rain did not appear to be freezing in nature nor did the preflight ATIS report freezing rain or drizzle. The frozen water drops on the cold soaked wing did, however, give concern and we proceeded to the deice pad at which time 'type I' fluid was applied and the appropriate report given. After deicing, we proceeded directly to the runway without delay. During the entire process, any rain condition did not appear to be freezing in nature (and honestly I am in doubt as to whether it existed at all from deicing to takeoff). I have been advised, however, that the conditions were subsequently reported to be freezing and that 'type ii' fluid should have been applied. It is evident that I need a clrer understanding of the meaning of light freezing rain/drizzle.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LGT WAS DEICED WITH THE WRONG FLUID FOR THE TYPE OF WX CONDITION.

Narrative: AFTER LNDG IN PIT FROM SEA, A PREFLT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT VERY LIGHT RAIN WAS FREEZING UPON CONTACT WITH THE COLD SOAKED WING BUT NOT ON THE FUSELAGE OR GND AND OTHER EQUIP. I RPTED THIS TO THE CAPT AND CONFIRMED IT UPON A SECOND CHK. THE TEMP WAS ABOVE FREEZING AND THE RAIN DID NOT APPEAR TO BE FREEZING IN NATURE NOR DID THE PREFLT ATIS RPT FREEZING RAIN OR DRIZZLE. THE FROZEN WATER DROPS ON THE COLD SOAKED WING DID, HOWEVER, GIVE CONCERN AND WE PROCEEDED TO THE DEICE PAD AT WHICH TIME 'TYPE I' FLUID WAS APPLIED AND THE APPROPRIATE RPT GIVEN. AFTER DEICING, WE PROCEEDED DIRECTLY TO THE RWY WITHOUT DELAY. DURING THE ENTIRE PROCESS, ANY RAIN CONDITION DID NOT APPEAR TO BE FREEZING IN NATURE (AND HONESTLY I AM IN DOUBT AS TO WHETHER IT EXISTED AT ALL FROM DEICING TO TKOF). I HAVE BEEN ADVISED, HOWEVER, THAT THE CONDITIONS WERE SUBSEQUENTLY RPTED TO BE FREEZING AND THAT 'TYPE II' FLUID SHOULD HAVE BEEN APPLIED. IT IS EVIDENT THAT I NEED A CLRER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MEANING OF LIGHT FREEZING RAIN/DRIZZLE.

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.