Narrative:

Flying a C172, without deicing capability, the rain we were in turned to light ice. We were IMC at the time. Upon seeing the ice start to build, I notified ATC and requested a lower altitude. We were told 'unable at this time.' this was surprising as I had said I was in a C172 and started to pick up ice. I was told, 'if you can't continue with your flight plan, let me know.' what would my choice have been, lower? I was told there was traffic at 5000 ft, we were at 6000 ft and that it would be a while. I asked what 'awhile' meant -- 30 mins, 10 mins, 5 mins? I was told not that long. Again, I had to ask, tying up valuable frequency time, how long was 'not that long.' I also informed ATC that I could last 5 or 10 mins and that if it would be much longer, or conditions changed, I would need to get lower. I was then told traffic 25 NM, opposite direction at 5000 ft. I said we could probably wait that long, but was very surprised at the altitude and lack of action when I mentioned 'ice.' I didn't want to declare an emergency, but wouldn't have hesitated had conditions worsened. Seems like a descent or even a small turn until opposing traffic passed would have been a quick, easy solution.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 CFI ON A TRAINING FLT PICKS UP ICING AT 6000 FT AND ISSUES A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE CTLR WHO DID NOT APPEAR TO BE CONCERNED WITH THE PLT'S PLIGHT 10 MI W OF EMI, MD.

Narrative: FLYING A C172, WITHOUT DEICING CAPABILITY, THE RAIN WE WERE IN TURNED TO LIGHT ICE. WE WERE IMC AT THE TIME. UPON SEEING THE ICE START TO BUILD, I NOTIFIED ATC AND REQUESTED A LOWER ALT. WE WERE TOLD 'UNABLE AT THIS TIME.' THIS WAS SURPRISING AS I HAD SAID I WAS IN A C172 AND STARTED TO PICK UP ICE. I WAS TOLD, 'IF YOU CAN'T CONTINUE WITH YOUR FLT PLAN, LET ME KNOW.' WHAT WOULD MY CHOICE HAVE BEEN, LOWER? I WAS TOLD THERE WAS TFC AT 5000 FT, WE WERE AT 6000 FT AND THAT IT WOULD BE A WHILE. I ASKED WHAT 'AWHILE' MEANT -- 30 MINS, 10 MINS, 5 MINS? I WAS TOLD NOT THAT LONG. AGAIN, I HAD TO ASK, TYING UP VALUABLE FREQ TIME, HOW LONG WAS 'NOT THAT LONG.' I ALSO INFORMED ATC THAT I COULD LAST 5 OR 10 MINS AND THAT IF IT WOULD BE MUCH LONGER, OR CONDITIONS CHANGED, I WOULD NEED TO GET LOWER. I WAS THEN TOLD TFC 25 NM, OPPOSITE DIRECTION AT 5000 FT. I SAID WE COULD PROBABLY WAIT THAT LONG, BUT WAS VERY SURPRISED AT THE ALT AND LACK OF ACTION WHEN I MENTIONED 'ICE.' I DIDN'T WANT TO DECLARE AN EMER, BUT WOULDN'T HAVE HESITATED HAD CONDITIONS WORSENED. SEEMS LIKE A DSCNT OR EVEN A SMALL TURN UNTIL OPPOSING TFC PASSED WOULD HAVE BEEN A QUICK, EASY SOLUTION.

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.