Narrative:

I had received a WX from a contract service that WX was VFR in the hou/dwh area. I left abi in VFR conditions, remaining VFR on top with the assistance of flight following. I had not filed a flight plan. When I was asked for information (phone numbers, addresses, etc), I believe I told them again that I could not file an instrument flight plan -- I was a VFR pilot. When the warrior I was flying started icing, I asked for permission to descend to VFR through a hole, as I could see the ground at that time through the clouds, closer to the deck. It did not take long to be 'swallowed up' in IMC. I told gray approach that I was having problems, that I was a VFR pilot. Gray approach asked (after I was in IMC) if I wanted to fly instruments. I had to fly instruments to get out of the icy mess I was in, with partial panel. I told gray approach, again, that I was a VFR pilot. I am aware that I was flying erratically due to loss of instruments/ice. I am working on my instrument rating. I do not yet have it. I am taking additional instruction with my flight instructor into IMC as soon as we can so I can continue working toward my instrument ticket. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that in the WX briefing she had before departure there was no mention of any WX other than VFR conditions en route or at destination. The reporter had about 40 hours instrument training over several yrs prior to the incident and has since acquired the instrument rating.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA PLT ON A VFR FLT ENCOUNTERS WX AND ICING. ASSISTANCE FROM ATC IS REQUESTED AND A SUCCESSFUL DSCNT TO WARMER VISUAL CONDITIONS WAS MADE.

Narrative: I HAD RECEIVED A WX FROM A CONTRACT SERVICE THAT WX WAS VFR IN THE HOU/DWH AREA. I LEFT ABI IN VFR CONDITIONS, REMAINING VFR ON TOP WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF FLT FOLLOWING. I HAD NOT FILED A FLT PLAN. WHEN I WAS ASKED FOR INFO (PHONE NUMBERS, ADDRESSES, ETC), I BELIEVE I TOLD THEM AGAIN THAT I COULD NOT FILE AN INST FLT PLAN -- I WAS A VFR PLT. WHEN THE WARRIOR I WAS FLYING STARTED ICING, I ASKED FOR PERMISSION TO DSND TO VFR THROUGH A HOLE, AS I COULD SEE THE GND AT THAT TIME THROUGH THE CLOUDS, CLOSER TO THE DECK. IT DID NOT TAKE LONG TO BE 'SWALLOWED UP' IN IMC. I TOLD GRAY APPROACH THAT I WAS HAVING PROBS, THAT I WAS A VFR PLT. GRAY APPROACH ASKED (AFTER I WAS IN IMC) IF I WANTED TO FLY INSTS. I HAD TO FLY INSTS TO GET OUT OF THE ICY MESS I WAS IN, WITH PARTIAL PANEL. I TOLD GRAY APPROACH, AGAIN, THAT I WAS A VFR PLT. I AM AWARE THAT I WAS FLYING ERRATICALLY DUE TO LOSS OF INSTS/ICE. I AM WORKING ON MY INST RATING. I DO NOT YET HAVE IT. I AM TAKING ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION WITH MY FLT INSTRUCTOR INTO IMC AS SOON AS WE CAN SO I CAN CONTINUE WORKING TOWARD MY INST TICKET. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT IN THE WX BRIEFING SHE HAD BEFORE DEP THERE WAS NO MENTION OF ANY WX OTHER THAN VFR CONDITIONS ENRTE OR AT DEST. THE RPTR HAD ABOUT 40 HRS INST TRAINING OVER SEVERAL YRS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND HAS SINCE ACQUIRED THE INST RATING.

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.