C172 low time pilot runs into unforecast icing at 4000 ft. Returns to land at departure airport of s...

Attributes
ACN	614258
Time
Date	200404
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sdf.airport
State Reference	KY
Altitude	msl single value : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Rain Fog other
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sdf.tracon tower : sdf.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 165 flight time type : 160
ASRS Report	614258
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : diverted to another airport
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Environmental Factor Flight Crew Human Performance Weather ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

Departed sdf on vector to intercept airway. At level off at 4000 ft MSL, began to pick up light mixed icing in clouds and moderate precipitation. Elected to abort flight and return to sdf. Requested lower altitude and vectors back to sdf. Due to high traffic situation and continued ice accumulation, it became necessary to declare an emergency. (Maximum ice buildup 1/4 inch.) landed without incident, all or most of the ice was washed off in the rain on approach. Preflight briefing with louisville AFSS reported freezing level at 8000 ft MSL, no icing expected below forecast freezing level along route of flight. There were also no PIREPS for icing along proposed route of flight. We encountered icing between 2500-4000 ft MSL. Upon landing, no request to call ATC was made.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 LOW TIME PLT RUNS INTO UNFORECAST ICING AT 4000 FT. RETURNS TO LAND AT DEP ARPT OF SDF, KY.

Narrative: DEPARTED SDF ON VECTOR TO INTERCEPT AIRWAY. AT LEVEL OFF AT 4000 FT MSL, BEGAN TO PICK UP LIGHT MIXED ICING IN CLOUDS AND MODERATE PRECIP. ELECTED TO ABORT FLT AND RETURN TO SDF. REQUESTED LOWER ALT AND VECTORS BACK TO SDF. DUE TO HIGH TFC SIT AND CONTINUED ICE ACCUMULATION, IT BECAME NECESSARY TO DECLARE AN EMER. (MAX ICE BUILDUP 1/4 INCH.) LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT, ALL OR MOST OF THE ICE WAS WASHED OFF IN THE RAIN ON APCH. PREFLT BRIEFING WITH LOUISVILLE AFSS RPTED FREEZING LEVEL AT 8000 FT MSL, NO ICING EXPECTED BELOW FORECAST FREEZING LEVEL ALONG RTE OF FLT. THERE WERE ALSO NO PIREPS FOR ICING ALONG PROPOSED RTE OF FLT. WE ENCOUNTERED ICING BTWN 2500-4000 FT MSL. UPON LNDG, NO REQUEST TO CALL ATC WAS MADE.

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.

C172 low time pilot runs into unforecast icing at 4000 ft. Returns to land at departure airport of sdf, ky.