Narrative:

IFR from gjt to cos. Standard WX brief given by FSS -- one for route of gjt V134 to dbl V108 to brk direct to cos. The other route briefed was a southerly route to cos via gjt V484 to blue mesa (hbu) then V244 via 080 degree radial to pueblo direct to cos. I asked the FSS briefer to give detailed reports of the WX for both rtes. The briefer reported that thunderstorms were coming from the south of pueblo moving in a northeast direction. Briefer suggested the southerly route as it would be least affected by the WX at the time I would be flying through the area. I decided on the southerly route as it appeared to be the safer route to fly due to the WX being reported for that time. I received the winds aloft report for my assigned altitude of 16000 ft. Standard NOTAMS and negative PIREPS being reported to the FSS at the time of the brief, which was approximately XA30. Departure from gjt was uneventful and WX conditions observed at that time were as briefed by the FSS. Once past the hbu VOR, the WX conditions turned from marginal to IMC. At approximately 20 mi east of the hbu VOR on the 080 degree radial. At 16000 ft I saw rime ice forming on my temperature probe. Within seconds, ice was forming on my leading edge of the wings. I reported the icing conditions to ZLC. Shortly after that report to center, I began losing airspeed and my PA28-200T automatic landing gear were engaged and opened. I then lost more airspeed and began losing altitude. I then declared an emergency condition and requested vectors to return back to hbu and the land at gunnison airport. ZLC did a supreme job of vectoring me to gunnison while making sure my altitude conditions were clear of terrain obstacles. Lesson learned: when WX is reported as it was (chain of thunderstorms in the area) stay on the ground!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT FLEW INTO ICING CONDITIONS IN ZKC CLASS E AIRSPACE.

Narrative: IFR FROM GJT TO COS. STANDARD WX BRIEF GIVEN BY FSS -- ONE FOR RTE OF GJT V134 TO DBL V108 TO BRK DIRECT TO COS. THE OTHER RTE BRIEFED WAS A SOUTHERLY RTE TO COS VIA GJT V484 TO BLUE MESA (HBU) THEN V244 VIA 080 DEG RADIAL TO PUEBLO DIRECT TO COS. I ASKED THE FSS BRIEFER TO GIVE DETAILED RPTS OF THE WX FOR BOTH RTES. THE BRIEFER RPTED THAT TSTMS WERE COMING FROM THE S OF PUEBLO MOVING IN A NE DIRECTION. BRIEFER SUGGESTED THE SOUTHERLY RTE AS IT WOULD BE LEAST AFFECTED BY THE WX AT THE TIME I WOULD BE FLYING THROUGH THE AREA. I DECIDED ON THE SOUTHERLY RTE AS IT APPEARED TO BE THE SAFER RTE TO FLY DUE TO THE WX BEING RPTED FOR THAT TIME. I RECEIVED THE WINDS ALOFT RPT FOR MY ASSIGNED ALT OF 16000 FT. STANDARD NOTAMS AND NEGATIVE PIREPS BEING RPTED TO THE FSS AT THE TIME OF THE BRIEF, WHICH WAS APPROX XA30. DEP FROM GJT WAS UNEVENTFUL AND WX CONDITIONS OBSERVED AT THAT TIME WERE AS BRIEFED BY THE FSS. ONCE PAST THE HBU VOR, THE WX CONDITIONS TURNED FROM MARGINAL TO IMC. AT APPROX 20 MI E OF THE HBU VOR ON THE 080 DEG RADIAL. AT 16000 FT I SAW RIME ICE FORMING ON MY TEMP PROBE. WITHIN SECONDS, ICE WAS FORMING ON MY LEADING EDGE OF THE WINGS. I RPTED THE ICING CONDITIONS TO ZLC. SHORTLY AFTER THAT RPT TO CTR, I BEGAN LOSING AIRSPD AND MY PA28-200T AUTOMATIC LNDG GEAR WERE ENGAGED AND OPENED. I THEN LOST MORE AIRSPD AND BEGAN LOSING ALT. I THEN DECLARED AN EMER CONDITION AND REQUESTED VECTORS TO RETURN BACK TO HBU AND THE LAND AT GUNNISON ARPT. ZLC DID A SUPREME JOB OF VECTORING ME TO GUNNISON WHILE MAKING SURE MY ALT CONDITIONS WERE CLR OF TERRAIN OBSTACLES. LESSON LEARNED: WHEN WX IS RPTED AS IT WAS (CHAIN OF TSTMS IN THE AREA) STAY ON THE GND!

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.