Narrative:

IFR flight plan V16 tus-elp 11000 ft. Departed tus. Was on top of clouds at 11000 ft until about 20 mi east of tus VOR. I diverted 3-4 mi south of V16 around some buildups. I was concentrating on the buildup cloud formations, so I inadvertently failed to ask for deviation or to inform ZAB that I had diverted. Also, I was at 11300 ft when controller pointed out these things, and requested that I correct to the north to get back on airway (V16) and to correct to my assigned altitude of 11000 ft, which I immediately did. Then I requested 12000 ft, which was approved. However, when 45 mi southwest of dmn, picked up light rime ice and pitot ice, and lost airspeed indicator. I immediately notified controller and asked for a descent and vectors to dmn, which was approved. At 9500 ft, broke out of overcast, and airspeed indicator became functional. Uneventful landing at dmn, then VFR under overcast into el paso, tx. Conclusions: 1) should have requested deviation around cloud tops. 2) should have requested lower rather than higher altitudes to have avoided icing in clouds.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT DEVIATES AROUND WX WITHOUT CLRNC IN ZAB AIRSPACE.

Narrative: IFR FLT PLAN V16 TUS-ELP 11000 FT. DEPARTED TUS. WAS ON TOP OF CLOUDS AT 11000 FT UNTIL ABOUT 20 MI E OF TUS VOR. I DIVERTED 3-4 MI S OF V16 AROUND SOME BUILDUPS. I WAS CONCENTRATING ON THE BUILDUP CLOUD FORMATIONS, SO I INADVERTENTLY FAILED TO ASK FOR DEV OR TO INFORM ZAB THAT I HAD DIVERTED. ALSO, I WAS AT 11300 FT WHEN CTLR POINTED OUT THESE THINGS, AND REQUESTED THAT I CORRECT TO THE N TO GET BACK ON AIRWAY (V16) AND TO CORRECT TO MY ASSIGNED ALT OF 11000 FT, WHICH I IMMEDIATELY DID. THEN I REQUESTED 12000 FT, WHICH WAS APPROVED. HOWEVER, WHEN 45 MI SW OF DMN, PICKED UP LIGHT RIME ICE AND PITOT ICE, AND LOST AIRSPD INDICATOR. I IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED CTLR AND ASKED FOR A DSCNT AND VECTORS TO DMN, WHICH WAS APPROVED. AT 9500 FT, BROKE OUT OF OVCST, AND AIRSPD INDICATOR BECAME FUNCTIONAL. UNEVENTFUL LNDG AT DMN, THEN VFR UNDER OVCST INTO EL PASO, TX. CONCLUSIONS: 1) SHOULD HAVE REQUESTED DEV AROUND CLOUD TOPS. 2) SHOULD HAVE REQUESTED LOWER RATHER THAN HIGHER ALTS TO HAVE AVOIDED ICING IN CLOUDS.

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.