I can't believe what I just saw

[SkyHog]

I went to WalMart to get Piper some food. As I was walking in, I heard the buzzing of a small propeller airplane. I look up, into the clouds, and just below them is a Cessna 172 (or 182). It proceeded to climb into the clouds. Its still snowing hard, with pellets falling from time to time. Current METAR at the closest airport:

201656Z 22007KT 5SM SN OVC019 M02/M05 A2990 RMK AO2 SNB30 SLP130 MTNS OBSCD P0000 T10171050

Seems like freezing risks to me. I hate to say it, but I think I see a news report in the future, these clouds go a ways North (which is the direction the pilot was headed).

edit: copied the wrong METAR

 

[ScottM]

Ok the ground temp was -4C, what were the tops at and what was temp at 3000AGL? Could be he was *hoping* for no freezing once he got up. The VV was 700 but was there a defined cloud deck or just bad vis?


But I would not have made the flight. Especially where your landing options are very limited. Seems a bit (actually more than a bit) dangerous too.

 

[SkyHog]

Oh, forgot the PIREPS for the area:

-In the direction he was headed
SAF UA /OV SAF320020 /TM 1555 /FL 200 /TP PAY3 /SK OVC070-TOPUNKN /RM IMC

-His departure:
ABQ UA /OV CNX270020 /TM 1715 /FL 110 /TP C402 /SK SCT-TOP080/SCT150 /WX FV99SM /TA M12 /TB LGT /RM AT ABQ OVC060-TOP120-130 TO ABOUT 25W CNX
ABQ UA /OV ABQ090020 /TM 1716 /FL 090 /TP B737 /TB CONT LGT OCNL MOD 080-260 /RM DURD
ABQ UA /OV ACH210020/TM 1720/FL260/TP B732/TB MDT/RM ZAB
ABQ UA /OV ABQ090020 /TM 1725 /FL 120 /TP B190 /TA M10 /IC LGT RIME
ABQ UA /OV ONM /TM 1727 /FL 280 /TP C560 /SK OVC-TOP230/SKC /WX FV99SM /TA M23 /WV 31652KT /TB NEG

 

[tonycondon]

no reports of ice in the PIREPS. but the icing prediction on ADDS is showing a strong likelihood while technically the AIRMET is to the northeast of Albuquerque, I think. i am slightly geographically challenged but its in the south central part of NM right?

edit: the PIREP of layers at 8000 feet would be beneficial. Field elevations at 7000 right? something doesnt add up...

oh and hooray for 2000 posts

 

[SkyHog]

no reports of ice in the PIREPS. but the icing prediction on ADDS is showing a strong likelihood while technically the AIRMET is to the northeast of Albuquerque, I think. i am slightly geographically challenged but its in the south central part of NM right?

edit: the PIREP of layers at 8000 feet would be beneficial. Field elevations at 7000 right? something doesnt add up...

oh and hooray for 2000 posts

Wouldn't RM IMC mean icing?

Oh, and Its actually 6000 and below for elevations.

 

[tonycondon]

no thats a remark that he was in Instrument Meteorological Conditions. OK altitudes jive a little better now that I know what field is out there.

 

[gismo]

Wouldn't RM IMC mean icing?

Oh, and Its actually 6000 and below for elevations.

Hard to say what that meant. Translated it's Remarks: Icing, but normally the remarks are used to indicate extra info about the type of icing and the actual report of icing comes earlier in the PIREP which is silent on the issue as far as I can see. There is one report of Light Rime Icing in another PIREP.

 

[tonycondon]

doh i didnt see that. good thing i use telephone briefing and look at the graphical PIREPs when checking weather.