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An express S2000 pilot requested a lower IFR altitude from ATC because of icing. His descent was delayed for a period of time.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 655936 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200504 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : stl.airport |
| State Reference | MO |
| Altitude | msl single value : 7000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Weather Elements | Ice Rain |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : t75.tracon |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft Low Wing 1 Eng Fixed Gear |
| 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 : instrument pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 980 flight time type : 480 |
| ASRS Report | 655936 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : flight data |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : exited adverse environment |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | ATC Human Performance Weather |
| Primary Problem | Weather |
Narrative:
Flight from mineral wells; tx; to springfield; mo; conducted at 9000 ft in VMC with a descent to 5000 ft upon nearing sgf to stay under freezing level. Obtained an updated WX brief from FSS while at sgf and was told to expect clear skies on my flight. I asked about ice; and was told ice was forecast in clouds above freezing level; but I should be in the clear. Departed sgf with a plan of descending under freezing level if I encountered clouds. Upon reaching stl; I needed to descend to clear clouds and requested descent from ATC; but was denied clearance; putting me in rain below freezing temperature. Upon more request from the next controller; a descent to 6000 ft was given; getting me out of freezing temperatures. Even though my flight plan was devised to keep me out of known icing; the ATC factor had not been considered. It will be in the future. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter verified his frustration with the ATC system. In the end; he did have his request granted.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN EXPRESS S2000 PLT REQUESTED A LOWER IFR ALT FROM ATC BECAUSE OF ICING. HIS DSCNT WAS DELAYED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
Narrative: FLT FROM MINERAL WELLS; TX; TO SPRINGFIELD; MO; CONDUCTED AT 9000 FT IN VMC WITH A DSCNT TO 5000 FT UPON NEARING SGF TO STAY UNDER FREEZING LEVEL. OBTAINED AN UPDATED WX BRIEF FROM FSS WHILE AT SGF AND WAS TOLD TO EXPECT CLR SKIES ON MY FLT. I ASKED ABOUT ICE; AND WAS TOLD ICE WAS FORECAST IN CLOUDS ABOVE FREEZING LEVEL; BUT I SHOULD BE IN THE CLR. DEPARTED SGF WITH A PLAN OF DSNDING UNDER FREEZING LEVEL IF I ENCOUNTERED CLOUDS. UPON REACHING STL; I NEEDED TO DSND TO CLR CLOUDS AND REQUESTED DSCNT FROM ATC; BUT WAS DENIED CLRNC; PUTTING ME IN RAIN BELOW FREEZING TEMP. UPON MORE REQUEST FROM THE NEXT CTLR; A DSCNT TO 6000 FT WAS GIVEN; GETTING ME OUT OF FREEZING TEMPS. EVEN THOUGH MY FLT PLAN WAS DEVISED TO KEEP ME OUT OF KNOWN ICING; THE ATC FACTOR HAD NOT BEEN CONSIDERED. IT WILL BE IN THE FUTURE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR VERIFIED HIS FRUSTRATION WITH THE ATC SYS. IN THE END; HE DID HAVE HIS REQUEST GRANTED.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.