An small aircraft pilot refused a descent into heavy WX.

Attributes
ACN	269780
Time
Date	199404
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : aqn airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 13000 msl bound upper : 13000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors enroute airway : zfw
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 45 flight time total : 1950 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	269780
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

Regional assigned lower from 13000 ft to 9000 ft. I responded unable at this time due to cells in front of me. I was then told I must be at 6000 ft or below over aqn VOR inbound to kdal. This was about 18 mi west of VOR. At about 5 mi west of aqn VOR, ATC said again descend to 9000 ft. I said unable due to cells showing active on my storm scope and right in front of me. I also told them that my aircraft was not certified for known icing. Response from ATC was 'are you declaring an emergency?' I responded 'yes, if that is what is required.' in my judgement, it was unsafe to enter an active cell with no icing equipment. Also on frequency, many airliners were asking to go around the same group of cells.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA PLT REFUSED A DSCNT INTO HVY WX.

Narrative: REGIONAL ASSIGNED LOWER FROM 13000 FT TO 9000 FT. I RESPONDED UNABLE AT THIS TIME DUE TO CELLS IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS THEN TOLD I MUST BE AT 6000 FT OR BELOW OVER AQN VOR INBOUND TO KDAL. THIS WAS ABOUT 18 MI W OF VOR. AT ABOUT 5 MI W OF AQN VOR, ATC SAID AGAIN DSND TO 9000 FT. I SAID UNABLE DUE TO CELLS SHOWING ACTIVE ON MY STORM SCOPE AND RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I ALSO TOLD THEM THAT MY ACFT WAS NOT CERTIFIED FOR KNOWN ICING. RESPONSE FROM ATC WAS 'ARE YOU DECLARING AN EMER?' I RESPONDED 'YES, IF THAT IS WHAT IS REQUIRED.' IN MY JUDGEMENT, IT WAS UNSAFE TO ENTER AN ACTIVE CELL WITH NO ICING EQUIP. ALSO ON FREQ, MANY AIRLINERS WERE ASKING TO GAR THE SAME GROUP OF CELLS.

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.