A C172 encountered icing conditions near dca.

Attributes
ACN	424914
Time
Date	199804
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ric
State Reference	VA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 450 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	424914
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : weather
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other

Narrative:

While giving me my clearance, the controller said that she couldn't give me the 3000 ft that I had asked for and asked if 5000 ft was ok. I told her my concerns for ice and accepted the clearance. During my climb she solicited several PIREPS from aircraft in my area all indicating negative on icing. At some point ZDC told me to climb to 6000 ft. This put me back into IMC. At some point south of ric I started to pick up some ice. I immediately told the ric approach controller my situation and asked for a descent back to 5000 ft. He said that he was unable due to traffic. I was cleared to 8000 ft. A few mins later, I was back in IMC. About 2 mins later I got a descent to 4000 ft. Shortly after that I was handed off to washington approach. They gave further dscnts at my request to 3000 ft and 2000 ft. The rest of the flight went without incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 ENCOUNTERED ICING CONDITIONS NEAR DCA.

Narrative: WHILE GIVING ME MY CLRNC, THE CTLR SAID THAT SHE COULDN'T GIVE ME THE 3000 FT THAT I HAD ASKED FOR AND ASKED IF 5000 FT WAS OK. I TOLD HER MY CONCERNS FOR ICE AND ACCEPTED THE CLRNC. DURING MY CLB SHE SOLICITED SEVERAL PIREPS FROM ACFT IN MY AREA ALL INDICATING NEGATIVE ON ICING. AT SOME POINT ZDC TOLD ME TO CLB TO 6000 FT. THIS PUT ME BACK INTO IMC. AT SOME POINT S OF RIC I STARTED TO PICK UP SOME ICE. I IMMEDIATELY TOLD THE RIC APCH CTLR MY SIT AND ASKED FOR A DSCNT BACK TO 5000 FT. HE SAID THAT HE WAS UNABLE DUE TO TFC. I WAS CLRED TO 8000 FT. A FEW MINS LATER, I WAS BACK IN IMC. ABOUT 2 MINS LATER I GOT A DSCNT TO 4000 FT. SHORTLY AFTER THAT I WAS HANDED OFF TO WASHINGTON APCH. THEY GAVE FURTHER DSCNTS AT MY REQUEST TO 3000 FT AND 2000 FT. THE REST OF THE FLT WENT WITHOUT INCIDENT.

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.