PA32 pilot flew into icing conditions. The pitot heat was discovered to be inoperative.

Attributes
ACN	530508
Time
Date	200111
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : slc.vortac
State Reference	UT
Altitude	msl single value : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : s56.tracon tower : ont.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 28
ASRS Report	530508
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : departure
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist controller : issued new clearance flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : declared emergency none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I filed IFR to ffu VOR expecting to fly VFR from ffu to pzo (parker, az). I didn't expect to fly into clouds even though filed IFR. Flying west on departure from slc on vectors I went IMC and started picking up light rime icing at 8000 ft MSL. Airspeed indicator failed due to icing even though pitot heat was on. This was an additional distracter. Icing build up continued. I asked to return to slc. On ILS runway 35 approach pointed out slc #2 airport. I saw it and landed there. I declared an emergency on approach to runway 35 before going to slc #2. Mistake filing IFR expecting to stay VMC. Contributing factor -- airspeed indicator failing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA32 PLT FLEW INTO ICING CONDITIONS. THE PITOT HEAT WAS DISCOVERED TO BE INOP.

Narrative: I FILED IFR TO FFU VOR EXPECTING TO FLY VFR FROM FFU TO PZO (PARKER, AZ). I DIDN'T EXPECT TO FLY INTO CLOUDS EVEN THOUGH FILED IFR. FLYING W ON DEP FROM SLC ON VECTORS I WENT IMC AND STARTED PICKING UP LIGHT RIME ICING AT 8000 FT MSL. AIRSPD INDICATOR FAILED DUE TO ICING EVEN THOUGH PITOT HEAT WAS ON. THIS WAS AN ADDITIONAL DISTRACTER. ICING BUILD UP CONTINUED. I ASKED TO RETURN TO SLC. ON ILS RWY 35 APCH POINTED OUT SLC #2 ARPT. I SAW IT AND LANDED THERE. I DECLARED AN EMER ON APCH TO RWY 35 BEFORE GOING TO SLC #2. MISTAKE FILING IFR EXPECTING TO STAY VMC. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR -- AIRSPD INDICATOR FAILING.

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.