Narrative:

The flight originated at lgc, GA, IFR to bna, tn. In lgc I got a standard briefing for the route, including an airmet for icing from the freezing level to 12000 ft, freezing level forecast from 8000 ft sloping to 4000 ft. PIREPS indicated trace to no icing below 4000 ft and none reported south of bna. Flight proceeded normally until 15-20 NM west of rmg, GA, where I became concerned about the approaching night and temperature drop. Calling atlanta flight watch I received the same icing forecast and freezing level forecast and PIREPS. I decided not to continue the flight at this time and reported direct rmg. Atlanta gave me 2000 ft and I exited the overcast on the way down at 3500 ft. At this time, I decided to try to continue VFR, WX permitting, and continued on towards bna. When 80 NM off the route 60 of bna, the WX deteriorated to where I could no longer maintain VFR at a safe altitude. The outside air temperature was 5 degrees C at this time at 3000 ft. I filed an IFR flight plan, picked up a clearance and continued. Approximately 60 NM from bna the outside air temperature started to drop close to 0 degrees C at 4000 ft (my IFR assigned altitude) and I requested lower. At this time, my passenger started to feel motion sick and one began to vomit. Memphis told me I could get lower in 6 mins. Approximately 50 NM from bna, memphis gave me 3000 ft. At this time I had detected a trace of ice on the windshield. At 3000 ft the icing stopped, however, the temperature was dropping towards freezing again. After monitoring various AWOS stations farther along the route reporting temperatures at or below freezing, I decided to discontinue the flight and land at syi, 40 mi southeast of bna. The VOR 36 approach into syi was completed without complications.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT, UPON ENCOUNTERING ICING CONDITIONS ENRTE TO DEST, FLIES IFR FLT PLAN AND LANDS SHORT OF INTENDED DEST AT SYI, TN.

Narrative: THE FLT ORIGINATED AT LGC, GA, IFR TO BNA, TN. IN LGC I GOT A STANDARD BRIEFING FOR THE RTE, INCLUDING AN AIRMET FOR ICING FROM THE FREEZING LEVEL TO 12000 FT, FREEZING LEVEL FORECAST FROM 8000 FT SLOPING TO 4000 FT. PIREPS INDICATED TRACE TO NO ICING BELOW 4000 FT AND NONE RPTED S OF BNA. FLT PROCEEDED NORMALLY UNTIL 15-20 NM W OF RMG, GA, WHERE I BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT THE APCHING NIGHT AND TEMP DROP. CALLING ATLANTA FLT WATCH I RECEIVED THE SAME ICING FORECAST AND FREEZING LEVEL FORECAST AND PIREPS. I DECIDED NOT TO CONTINUE THE FLT AT THIS TIME AND RPTED DIRECT RMG. ATLANTA GAVE ME 2000 FT AND I EXITED THE OVCST ON THE WAY DOWN AT 3500 FT. AT THIS TIME, I DECIDED TO TRY TO CONTINUE VFR, WX PERMITTING, AND CONTINUED ON TOWARDS BNA. WHEN 80 NM OFF THE RTE 60 OF BNA, THE WX DETERIORATED TO WHERE I COULD NO LONGER MAINTAIN VFR AT A SAFE ALT. THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WAS 5 DEGS C AT THIS TIME AT 3000 FT. I FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN, PICKED UP A CLRNC AND CONTINUED. APPROX 60 NM FROM BNA THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMP STARTED TO DROP CLOSE TO 0 DEGS C AT 4000 FT (MY IFR ASSIGNED ALT) AND I REQUESTED LOWER. AT THIS TIME, MY PAX STARTED TO FEEL MOTION SICK AND ONE BEGAN TO VOMIT. MEMPHIS TOLD ME I COULD GET LOWER IN 6 MINS. APPROX 50 NM FROM BNA, MEMPHIS GAVE ME 3000 FT. AT THIS TIME I HAD DETECTED A TRACE OF ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD. AT 3000 FT THE ICING STOPPED, HOWEVER, THE TEMP WAS DROPPING TOWARDS FREEZING AGAIN. AFTER MONITORING VARIOUS AWOS STATIONS FARTHER ALONG THE RTE RPTING TEMPS AT OR BELOW FREEZING, I DECIDED TO DISCONTINUE THE FLT AND LAND AT SYI, 40 MI SE OF BNA. THE VOR 36 APCH INTO SYI WAS COMPLETED WITHOUT COMPLICATIONS.

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.