BE58 on approach encounters severe turbulence and hail is indicated at the field. Requests vector to...

Attributes
ACN	308666
Time
Date	199506
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iad
State Reference	VA
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : iad
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Baron 58/58TC
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 6800 flight time type : 950
ASRS Report	308666
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

I flew from syr toward iad on an IFR flight plan. As I approached iad, the WX grew worse. There was moderate turbulence and my stormscope was lit up. As I was vectored onto the localizer of the iad ILS runway 19R approach, the iad TRACON announced 'hail on the field.' as I intercepted the localizer, the turbulence grew. I requested an immediate vector to fdk. I was ignored. The sky grew darker, more turbulent. I repeated the request to no avail again. I began to do 360 degree turns on the localizer and told ATC that I was exercising my emergency PIC authority/authorized and wanted vectors to fdk. When ATC refused, I declared an emergency and was vectored to fdk where I waited 30 mins and flew to iad without incident. This could have been WX severe enough to kill my passenger and me and ATC should have not ignored my request. The iad approach supervisor, who I called from fdk, said I failed to adequately communicate. I do not feel this to be the case.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BE58 ON APCH ENCOUNTERS SEVERE TURB AND HAIL IS INDICATED AT THE FIELD. REQUESTS VECTOR TO ALTERNATE ARPT.

Narrative: I FLEW FROM SYR TOWARD IAD ON AN IFR FLT PLAN. AS I APCHED IAD, THE WX GREW WORSE. THERE WAS MODERATE TURB AND MY STORMSCOPE WAS LIT UP. AS I WAS VECTORED ONTO THE LOC OF THE IAD ILS RWY 19R APCH, THE IAD TRACON ANNOUNCED 'HAIL ON THE FIELD.' AS I INTERCEPTED THE LOC, THE TURB GREW. I REQUESTED AN IMMEDIATE VECTOR TO FDK. I WAS IGNORED. THE SKY GREW DARKER, MORE TURBULENT. I REPEATED THE REQUEST TO NO AVAIL AGAIN. I BEGAN TO DO 360 DEG TURNS ON THE LOC AND TOLD ATC THAT I WAS EXERCISING MY EMER PIC AUTH AND WANTED VECTORS TO FDK. WHEN ATC REFUSED, I DECLARED AN EMER AND WAS VECTORED TO FDK WHERE I WAITED 30 MINS AND FLEW TO IAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN WX SEVERE ENOUGH TO KILL MY PAX AND ME AND ATC SHOULD HAVE NOT IGNORED MY REQUEST. THE IAD APCH SUPVR, WHO I CALLED FROM FDK, SAID I FAILED TO ADEQUATELY COMMUNICATE. I DO NOT FEEL THIS TO BE THE CASE.

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.

BE58 on approach encounters severe turbulence and hail is indicated at the field. Requests vector to alternate airport.