Narrative:

I filed an IFR flight plan and received a complete WX briefing. I waited till a front of WX went through the area and the WX was expected to be better after the front passed. I was flying on an IFR flight plan from ZZZ1 to ZZZ2 at 8000 ft above the clouds. When I got closer to the ZZZ2 area; the clouds were higher than 8000 ft and being on an IFR flight plan; I entered the clouds and started to develop ice on my windshield. I requested ATC to descend to 4000 ft. The pitot tube froze and the airspeed indicated 0 and the plane became unstable due to ice building on the wings. I was concerned I may be close to stalling due to ice on the wings and I lost altitude to 1800 ft and was told by ATC that I was below minimal safe altitude of 2500 ft. I was able to gradually climb to 3000 ft using full power and requested to divert to ZZZ3 where the WX was reported to be better. I broke out of the clouds near ZZZ3 and made the visual approach to the airport. Approach control was very helpful in assisting me in this difficult situation and I would like to convey to them my thanks and appreciation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C182 ENCOUNTERED ICING WHILE AT CRUISE ALT. PLT DESCENDED AND WAS BELOW MIN SAFE ALT BEFORE ACFT PERFORMANCE WAS SATISFACTORY. PLT DIVERTED TO AN ARPT WHERE VMC PREVAILED.

Narrative: I FILED AN IFR FLT PLAN AND RECEIVED A COMPLETE WX BRIEFING. I WAITED TILL A FRONT OF WX WENT THROUGH THE AREA AND THE WX WAS EXPECTED TO BE BETTER AFTER THE FRONT PASSED. I WAS FLYING ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM ZZZ1 TO ZZZ2 AT 8000 FT ABOVE THE CLOUDS. WHEN I GOT CLOSER TO THE ZZZ2 AREA; THE CLOUDS WERE HIGHER THAN 8000 FT AND BEING ON AN IFR FLT PLAN; I ENTERED THE CLOUDS AND STARTED TO DEVELOP ICE ON MY WINDSHIELD. I REQUESTED ATC TO DSND TO 4000 FT. THE PITOT TUBE FROZE AND THE AIRSPD INDICATED 0 AND THE PLANE BECAME UNSTABLE DUE TO ICE BUILDING ON THE WINGS. I WAS CONCERNED I MAY BE CLOSE TO STALLING DUE TO ICE ON THE WINGS AND I LOST ALT TO 1800 FT AND WAS TOLD BY ATC THAT I WAS BELOW MINIMAL SAFE ALT OF 2500 FT. I WAS ABLE TO GRADUALLY CLB TO 3000 FT USING FULL PWR AND REQUESTED TO DIVERT TO ZZZ3 WHERE THE WX WAS RPTED TO BE BETTER. I BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS NEAR ZZZ3 AND MADE THE VISUAL APCH TO THE ARPT. APCH CTL WAS VERY HELPFUL IN ASSISTING ME IN THIS DIFFICULT SITUATION AND I WOULD LIKE TO CONVEY TO THEM MY THANKS AND APPRECIATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.