Instrument rated private pilot lost aircraft control to hold altitude during ILS approach transition due to wing icing on his PA32 cherokee resulting in ATC declaring an emergency for him in order to provide priority handling.

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Attributes
ACN	497324
Time
Date	200101
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : buf.airport
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Ice
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob.artcc tracon : buf.tracon tower : buf.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : 23
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent : vacating altitude
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 21 flight time total : 940 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	497324
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other other anomaly
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : acft performance other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Environmental Factor Weather
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

Multiple preflight briefings for a flight from N67 to 9g0 indicated improving conditions with VFR conditions at destination and IFR conditions en route. WX conditions at buffalo were predicted to deteriorate after XA00. I began the flight under VFR conditions, and was IFR on top from williamsport to buffalo. Arriving at buffalo, I was informed that in my descent I would encounter light to moderate rime icing conditions. I asked for an expedited descent, but was unable to maintain my minimum altitude of 2300 ft due to icing on wings. I eventually stabilized at 2000 ft and was vectored to the airport after the controller declared an emergency. I had assumed that conditions would be better than they were based upon the forecast. Normally, in this region, there are breaks in the clouds which can be used for safe descent and to avoid icing conditions. I made the decision to descend through icing conditions. I should have diverted to an area where this was unnecessary.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INST RATED PVT PLT LOST ACFT CTL TO HOLD ALT DURING ILS APCH TRANSITION DUE TO WING ICING ON HIS PA32 CHEROKEE RESULTING IN ATC DECLARING AN EMER FOR HIM IN ORDER TO PROVIDE PRIORITY HANDLING.

Narrative: MULTIPLE PREFLT BRIEFINGS FOR A FLT FROM N67 TO 9G0 INDICATED IMPROVING CONDITIONS WITH VFR CONDITIONS AT DEST AND IFR CONDITIONS ENRTE. WX CONDITIONS AT BUFFALO WERE PREDICTED TO DETERIORATE AFTER XA00. I BEGAN THE FLT UNDER VFR CONDITIONS, AND WAS IFR ON TOP FROM WILLIAMSPORT TO BUFFALO. ARRIVING AT BUFFALO, I WAS INFORMED THAT IN MY DSCNT I WOULD ENCOUNTER LIGHT TO MODERATE RIME ICING CONDITIONS. I ASKED FOR AN EXPEDITED DSCNT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN MY MINIMUM ALT OF 2300 FT DUE TO ICING ON WINGS. I EVENTUALLY STABILIZED AT 2000 FT AND WAS VECTORED TO THE ARPT AFTER THE CTLR DECLARED AN EMER. I HAD ASSUMED THAT CONDITIONS WOULD BE BETTER THAN THEY WERE BASED UPON THE FORECAST. NORMALLY, IN THIS REGION, THERE ARE BREAKS IN THE CLOUDS WHICH CAN BE USED FOR SAFE DSCNT AND TO AVOID ICING CONDITIONS. I MADE THE DECISION TO DSND THROUGH ICING CONDITIONS. I SHOULD HAVE DIVERTED TO AN AREA WHERE THIS WAS UNNECESSARY.

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.