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A high time C210C turbo centurion pilot climbs to 17500 ft VFR on top to avoid icing and cloud tops en route to southwest pennsylvania.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 574003 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200302 |
| Day | Fri |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : ihd.vortac |
| State Reference | PA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zob.artcc tower : ord.tower |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C, 210D |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | other other vortac |
| Flight Phase | cruise : enroute altitude change |
| Route In Use | enroute other |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : flight engineer pilot : multi engine |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 25000 flight time type : 250 |
| ASRS Report | 574003 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Weather Airspace Structure Environmental Factor |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
The WX forecast for southwestern pennsylvania and west virginia was low ceilings, poor visibility, and icing in the clouds. The ATIS, ASOS, and AWOS en route confirmed the poor WX. Cloud tops were forecast to be 12000 ft. I started across the clouds 'on top.' the tops started rising. At one point, I did a 180 degree turn to find the clouds even higher behind me. With luck, I found a canyon in the clouds that met much more than the minimum cloud clearance requirements. But, to keep the cloud clearance, I had to climb to 17500 ft while going wbound. My aircraft is equipped with a 9900BX tcad. The only traffic observed was +2000 ft higher and 5 1/2 mi away. Never again!
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A HIGH TIME C210C TURBO CENTURION PLT CLBS TO 17500 FT VFR ON TOP TO AVOID ICING AND CLOUD TOPS ENRTE TO SW PENNSYLVANIA.
Narrative: THE WX FORECAST FOR SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST VIRGINIA WAS LOW CEILINGS, POOR VISIBILITY, AND ICING IN THE CLOUDS. THE ATIS, ASOS, AND AWOS ENRTE CONFIRMED THE POOR WX. CLOUD TOPS WERE FORECAST TO BE 12000 FT. I STARTED ACROSS THE CLOUDS 'ON TOP.' THE TOPS STARTED RISING. AT ONE POINT, I DID A 180 DEG TURN TO FIND THE CLOUDS EVEN HIGHER BEHIND ME. WITH LUCK, I FOUND A CANYON IN THE CLOUDS THAT MET MUCH MORE THAN THE MINIMUM CLOUD CLRNC REQUIREMENTS. BUT, TO KEEP THE CLOUD CLRNC, I HAD TO CLB TO 17500 FT WHILE GOING WBOUND. MY ACFT IS EQUIPPED WITH A 9900BX TCAD. THE ONLY TFC OBSERVED WAS +2000 FT HIGHER AND 5 1/2 MI AWAY. NEVER AGAIN!
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.