A cessna 182 pilot lost airspeed and altitude near msp.

Attributes
ACN	443185
Time
Date	199907
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : msp.airport
State Reference	MN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4300 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skylane 182/RG Turbo Skylane/RG
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
ASRS Report	443185
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While in cruise flight at 5000 ft MSL, airspeed indicator showed losing airspeed, at same time losing altitude. While trying to diagnose the situation, I lost about 700 ft. At this time the airspeed indicator started showing increase again. I then climbed back to 5000 ft MSL and all was ok. The vsi showed no indication of climb or descent during this time. After recovering to altitude I decided I must have lost my airspeed indicator. I did report lost altitude indicator and airspeed indicator to ATC while the event was going on. At some point I turned on pitot heat and that may have fixed the problem.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CESSNA 182 PLT LOST AIRSPD AND ALT NEAR MSP.

Narrative: WHILE IN CRUISE FLT AT 5000 FT MSL, AIRSPD INDICATOR SHOWED LOSING AIRSPD, AT SAME TIME LOSING ALT. WHILE TRYING TO DIAGNOSE THE SIT, I LOST ABOUT 700 FT. AT THIS TIME THE AIRSPD INDICATOR STARTED SHOWING INCREASE AGAIN. I THEN CLBED BACK TO 5000 FT MSL AND ALL WAS OK. THE VSI SHOWED NO INDICATION OF CLB OR DSCNT DURING THIS TIME. AFTER RECOVERING TO ALT I DECIDED I MUST HAVE LOST MY AIRSPD INDICATOR. I DID RPT LOST ALT INDICATOR AND AIRSPD INDICATOR TO ATC WHILE THE EVENT WAS GOING ON. AT SOME POINT I TURNED ON PITOT HEAT AND THAT MAY HAVE FIXED THE PROB.

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.