IFR flight into icing conditions.

Attributes
ACN	101434
Time
Date	198901
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : hec
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 12000 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zla
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 900 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	101434
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Flight into light/moderate icing. Not known icing, although received report of light rime over paradise VORTAC at 12000' 2 hours earlier. I'm sending this in because it seems to be a gray area as to what constitutes 'known icing,' and the way the FAA is headhunting, I just wanted to be safe. No priority was needed nor any special action required for continuation of flight. I simply requested lower altitude, and received clearance for lower. Although MEA's were high, so were ceilings, so no great risk was involved. However, I do intend to be more conservative with ice in the future.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IFR FLT INTO ICING CONDITIONS.

Narrative: FLT INTO LIGHT/MODERATE ICING. NOT KNOWN ICING, ALTHOUGH RECEIVED RPT OF LIGHT RIME OVER PARADISE VORTAC AT 12000' 2 HOURS EARLIER. I'M SENDING THIS IN BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE A GRAY AREA AS TO WHAT CONSTITUTES 'KNOWN ICING,' AND THE WAY THE FAA IS HEADHUNTING, I JUST WANTED TO BE SAFE. NO PRIORITY WAS NEEDED NOR ANY SPECIAL ACTION REQUIRED FOR CONTINUATION OF FLT. I SIMPLY REQUESTED LOWER ALT, AND RECEIVED CLRNC FOR LOWER. ALTHOUGH MEA'S WERE HIGH, SO WERE CEILINGS, SO NO GREAT RISK WAS INVOLVED. HOWEVER, I DO INTEND TO BE MORE CONSERVATIVE WITH ICE IN THE FUTURE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.