Narrative:

IFR cross country, cak to uiz, michigan problem of missing xmissions from det approach caused by switching #2 radio for unicom at berz-macomb airport (destination). Inadvertent selection of #2 transmitter was corrected after about 5 mins when #1 transmitter was selected and subsequent contact re-established with det approach. During the time while off frequency, serious windshear and snow showers were encountered causing loss of altitude to 4000' MSL (5000' MSL assigned by ATC). Later while being vectored by ATC, lost altitude to 3000' MSL due to windshear/snow showers. Very difficult to hold altitude in WX conditions. Elected to land at detroit city rather than uiz. Before landing at detroit city, did experience windshear encounter resulting in a descent to 2500' (while assigned 3000' MSL by ATC). Some altitude deviation may have been caused by inattn to altitude while being preoccupied by prospects of airframe icing. Some serious reservations about winter flight into IMC created some stress upon pilot. Flight undertaken upon insistence by male passenger. Most helpful action: never, never initiate a flight which the pilot does not feel adequate to safely complete.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA ALT DEVIATION EXCURSION FROM CLRNC ALT.

Narrative: IFR CROSS COUNTRY, CAK TO UIZ, MICHIGAN PROB OF MISSING XMISSIONS FROM DET APCH CAUSED BY SWITCHING #2 RADIO FOR UNICOM AT BERZ-MACOMB ARPT (DEST). INADVERTENT SELECTION OF #2 XMITTER WAS CORRECTED AFTER ABOUT 5 MINS WHEN #1 XMITTER WAS SELECTED AND SUBSEQUENT CONTACT RE-ESTABLISHED WITH DET APCH. DURING THE TIME WHILE OFF FREQ, SERIOUS WINDSHEAR AND SNOW SHOWERS WERE ENCOUNTERED CAUSING LOSS OF ALT TO 4000' MSL (5000' MSL ASSIGNED BY ATC). LATER WHILE BEING VECTORED BY ATC, LOST ALT TO 3000' MSL DUE TO WINDSHEAR/SNOW SHOWERS. VERY DIFFICULT TO HOLD ALT IN WX CONDITIONS. ELECTED TO LAND AT DETROIT CITY RATHER THAN UIZ. BEFORE LNDG AT DETROIT CITY, DID EXPERIENCE WINDSHEAR ENCOUNTER RESULTING IN A DSCNT TO 2500' (WHILE ASSIGNED 3000' MSL BY ATC). SOME ALT DEVIATION MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY INATTN TO ALT WHILE BEING PREOCCUPIED BY PROSPECTS OF AIRFRAME ICING. SOME SERIOUS RESERVATIONS ABOUT WINTER FLT INTO IMC CREATED SOME STRESS UPON PLT. FLT UNDERTAKEN UPON INSISTENCE BY MALE PAX. MOST HELPFUL ACTION: NEVER, NEVER INITIATE A FLT WHICH THE PLT DOES NOT FEEL ADEQUATE TO SAFELY COMPLETE.

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