Narrative:

I had made a successful ILS approach to btv runway 33 at XA00 on apr/xa/98, picking up light rime ice on the descent. 2 hours later, on departure, I had been briefed that there was light rime ice in the clouds, but that the tops were at 10000 ft and that if I could get above it, I would be ok to the south. I filed IFR and took off into known icing. When I reached 7400 ft, I had picked up too much ice to continue climb. I advised ATC of the problem and requested immediate return to btv by most expedient route. They gave me vectors direct to field and we landed safely. After spending the night, I called for briefings on apr/xb/98 and was advised that PIREPS reported ice in some areas between 3000 ft and 4500 ft, but that tops were only 6300 ft. Since I had climbed to 7400 ft the day before, I reasoned I could get above it easily. Also, the briefers had advised that it would deteriorate if I waited, and that I should go soon if I expected to get out. I filed IFR, took off and climbed out successfully and completed flight plan to N07. I violated the regulations by taking off into known icing conditions on apr/xa/98 and apr/xb/98. On apr/xa/98 I also may have violated a regulation by having an inoperative pitot heater. I take full responsibility for this lapse in judgement caused by being far from home with a passenger eager to get home. It will never recur. ATC was most helpful, and I called them to thank them for their assistance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA28 COM PLT ATTEMPTS TO FLY INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS DURING HIS DESIRE TO GET HOME WITH A PAX. ACFT IS UNABLE TO FLY ABOVE THE CLOUDS SO PLT RETURNS TO DEP ARPT WITH ATC ASSISTANCE FOR AN OVERNIGHT. HE HAD LEFT WITH AN INOP PITOT HEATER AS WELL. NEXT DAY HE LEAVES SUCCESSFULLY, BUT STILL INTO KNOWN ICING.

Narrative: I HAD MADE A SUCCESSFUL ILS APCH TO BTV RWY 33 AT XA00 ON APR/XA/98, PICKING UP LIGHT RIME ICE ON THE DSCNT. 2 HRS LATER, ON DEP, I HAD BEEN BRIEFED THAT THERE WAS LIGHT RIME ICE IN THE CLOUDS, BUT THAT THE TOPS WERE AT 10000 FT AND THAT IF I COULD GET ABOVE IT, I WOULD BE OK TO THE S. I FILED IFR AND TOOK OFF INTO KNOWN ICING. WHEN I REACHED 7400 FT, I HAD PICKED UP TOO MUCH ICE TO CONTINUE CLB. I ADVISED ATC OF THE PROB AND REQUESTED IMMEDIATE RETURN TO BTV BY MOST EXPEDIENT RTE. THEY GAVE ME VECTORS DIRECT TO FIELD AND WE LANDED SAFELY. AFTER SPENDING THE NIGHT, I CALLED FOR BRIEFINGS ON APR/XB/98 AND WAS ADVISED THAT PIREPS RPTED ICE IN SOME AREAS BTWN 3000 FT AND 4500 FT, BUT THAT TOPS WERE ONLY 6300 FT. SINCE I HAD CLBED TO 7400 FT THE DAY BEFORE, I REASONED I COULD GET ABOVE IT EASILY. ALSO, THE BRIEFERS HAD ADVISED THAT IT WOULD DETERIORATE IF I WAITED, AND THAT I SHOULD GO SOON IF I EXPECTED TO GET OUT. I FILED IFR, TOOK OFF AND CLBED OUT SUCCESSFULLY AND COMPLETED FLT PLAN TO N07. I VIOLATED THE REGS BY TAKING OFF INTO KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS ON APR/XA/98 AND APR/XB/98. ON APR/XA/98 I ALSO MAY HAVE VIOLATED A REG BY HAVING AN INOP PITOT HEATER. I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS LAPSE IN JUDGEMENT CAUSED BY BEING FAR FROM HOME WITH A PAX EAGER TO GET HOME. IT WILL NEVER RECUR. ATC WAS MOST HELPFUL, AND I CALLED THEM TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE.

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.