Small aircraft encounters ice on descent. Unable maintain altitude. Controller declares emergency.

Attributes
ACN	203998
Time
Date	199202
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : hlg
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : v214
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 24 flight time total : 249 flight time type : 60
ASRS Report	203998
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot inflight encounter : weather
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

I encountered light rime icing (1/2 inch) during arrival to hlg. Due to ice accumulation I could not maintain 3000 ft, my assigned altitude per pittsburgh approach. I notified pittsburgh approach and pittsburgh declared an emergency. I then successfully landed at hlg. Other factors: icing was forecast in a SIGMET I received about 1 hour prior to arrival and no PIREPS were received indicating actual icing. Inactions: upon reflection, I should have requested that my initial descent into hlg occur later due to forecasted icing. I was on-top when at 40 mi out approach cleared me to 4000 ft. I immediately complied and accumulated ice from 7000 ft down to 3000 ft. I spent approximately 15 mins in the descent.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA ENCOUNTERS ICE ON DSCNT. UNABLE MAINTAIN ALT. CTLR DECLARES EMER.

Narrative: I ENCOUNTERED LIGHT RIME ICING (1/2 INCH) DURING ARR TO HLG. DUE TO ICE ACCUMULATION I COULD NOT MAINTAIN 3000 FT, MY ASSIGNED ALT PER PITTSBURGH APCH. I NOTIFIED PITTSBURGH APCH AND PITTSBURGH DECLARED AN EMER. I THEN SUCCESSFULLY LANDED AT HLG. OTHER FACTORS: ICING WAS FORECAST IN A SIGMET I RECEIVED ABOUT 1 HR PRIOR TO ARR AND NO PIREPS WERE RECEIVED INDICATING ACTUAL ICING. INACTIONS: UPON REFLECTION, I SHOULD HAVE REQUESTED THAT MY INITIAL DSCNT INTO HLG OCCUR LATER DUE TO FORECASTED ICING. I WAS ON-TOP WHEN AT 40 MI OUT APCH CLRED ME TO 4000 FT. I IMMEDIATELY COMPLIED AND ACCUMULATED ICE FROM 7000 FT DOWN TO 3000 FT. I SPENT APPROX 15 MINS IN THE DSCNT.

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.