PA28 pilot deviates around WX without clearance in ZAB airspace.

Attributes
ACN	421633
Time
Date	199812
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : tus
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 11000 msl bound upper : 11300
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zny
Operator	general aviation : personal
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 1830
ASRS Report	421633
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

IFR flight plan V16 tus-elp 11000 ft. Departed tus. Was on top of clouds at 11000 ft until about 20 mi east of tus VOR. I diverted 3-4 mi south of V16 around some buildups. I was concentrating on the buildup cloud formations, so I inadvertently failed to ask for deviation or to inform ZAB that I had diverted. Also, I was at 11300 ft when controller pointed out these things, and requested that I correct to the north to get back on airway (V16) and to correct to my assigned altitude of 11000 ft, which I immediately did. Then I requested 12000 ft, which was approved. However, when 45 mi southwest of dmn, picked up light rime ice and pitot ice, and lost airspeed indicator. I immediately notified controller and asked for a descent and vectors to dmn, which was approved. At 9500 ft, broke out of overcast, and airspeed indicator became functional. Uneventful landing at dmn, then VFR under overcast into el paso, tx. Conclusions: 1) should have requested deviation around cloud tops. 2) should have requested lower rather than higher altitudes to have avoided icing in clouds.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT DEVIATES AROUND WX WITHOUT CLRNC IN ZAB AIRSPACE.

Narrative: IFR FLT PLAN V16 TUS-ELP 11000 FT. DEPARTED TUS. WAS ON TOP OF CLOUDS AT 11000 FT UNTIL ABOUT 20 MI E OF TUS VOR. I DIVERTED 3-4 MI S OF V16 AROUND SOME BUILDUPS. I WAS CONCENTRATING ON THE BUILDUP CLOUD FORMATIONS, SO I INADVERTENTLY FAILED TO ASK FOR DEV OR TO INFORM ZAB THAT I HAD DIVERTED. ALSO, I WAS AT 11300 FT WHEN CTLR POINTED OUT THESE THINGS, AND REQUESTED THAT I CORRECT TO THE N TO GET BACK ON AIRWAY (V16) AND TO CORRECT TO MY ASSIGNED ALT OF 11000 FT, WHICH I IMMEDIATELY DID. THEN I REQUESTED 12000 FT, WHICH WAS APPROVED. HOWEVER, WHEN 45 MI SW OF DMN, PICKED UP LIGHT RIME ICE AND PITOT ICE, AND LOST AIRSPD INDICATOR. I IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED CTLR AND ASKED FOR A DSCNT AND VECTORS TO DMN, WHICH WAS APPROVED. AT 9500 FT, BROKE OUT OF OVCST, AND AIRSPD INDICATOR BECAME FUNCTIONAL. UNEVENTFUL LNDG AT DMN, THEN VFR UNDER OVCST INTO EL PASO, TX. CONCLUSIONS: 1) SHOULD HAVE REQUESTED DEV AROUND CLOUD TOPS. 2) SHOULD HAVE REQUESTED LOWER RATHER THAN HIGHER ALTS TO HAVE AVOIDED ICING IN CLOUDS.

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.