Piper cherokee 6 instrument rated private pilot flew into unforecasted WX causing a loss of his altimeter accuracy and airspeed indicator, as well as losing altitude due to aircraft icing. He requested help from ARTCC controller in diverting to land.

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Attributes
ACN	539048
Time
Date	200202
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : smo.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Ice
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon tower : wjf.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 400 flight time type : 125
ASRS Report	539048
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : altimeter and airspeed other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Aircraft Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

While flying a cherokee 6 on an IFR flight plan at night and over mountains, with 6 passenger, I was given a controled descent on approach to smo that went directly into severe icing conditions. The result was complete loss of airspeed indicator, altimeter, and vsi. The windscreen had iced over as well and there was no forward vision at 9000 ft MSL. At this point the aircraft began to sink under the weight of the ice and the loss of lift from the drag/leading edge disruption. I attempted several times to contact approach, but received no response and finally after I stated that I would need assistance or have to declare an emergency would they respond, the controller diverted me to fox field after he realized I could not maintain my altitude. The descent and landing at fox was uneventful. I think this could have been prevented by a better preflight WX briefing and by better handling of the controllers by not placing this aircraft into severe icing conditions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIPER CHEROKEE 6 INST RATED PVT PLT FLEW INTO UNFORECASTED WX CAUSING A LOSS OF HIS ALTIMETER ACCURACY AND AIRSPD INDICATOR, AS WELL AS LOSING ALT DUE TO ACFT ICING. HE REQUESTED HELP FROM ARTCC CTLR IN DIVERTING TO LAND.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING A CHEROKEE 6 ON AN IFR FLT PLAN AT NIGHT AND OVER MOUNTAINS, WITH 6 PAX, I WAS GIVEN A CTLED DSCNT ON APCH TO SMO THAT WENT DIRECTLY INTO SEVERE ICING CONDITIONS. THE RESULT WAS COMPLETE LOSS OF AIRSPD INDICATOR, ALTIMETER, AND VSI. THE WINDSCREEN HAD ICED OVER AS WELL AND THERE WAS NO FORWARD VISION AT 9000 FT MSL. AT THIS POINT THE ACFT BEGAN TO SINK UNDER THE WT OF THE ICE AND THE LOSS OF LIFT FROM THE DRAG/LEADING EDGE DISRUPTION. I ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO CONTACT APCH, BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE AND FINALLY AFTER I STATED THAT I WOULD NEED ASSISTANCE OR HAVE TO DECLARE AN EMER WOULD THEY RESPOND, THE CTLR DIVERTED ME TO FOX FIELD AFTER HE REALIZED I COULD NOT MAINTAIN MY ALT. THE DSCNT AND LNDG AT FOX WAS UNEVENTFUL. I THINK THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY A BETTER PREFLT WX BRIEFING AND BY BETTER HANDLING OF THE CTLRS BY NOT PLACING THIS ACFT INTO SEVERE ICING CONDITIONS.

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.