PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 79; Flight Crew Total 8581; Flight Crew Type 753
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Weather
I filed an IFR flight plan to go to ZZZ; we went at 9;000 feet then up to 10;000 feet. As we started down to ZZZ all went well till we started our approach to ZZZ. ATC asked what approach we wanted I said 30. ATC said go direct to ZZZZZ Fix I didn't understand them and asked again and spelled it. I leveled off 3;600 feet and started to pick up ice. I called ATC and said I was not able to stay at 3;600 feet; needed to descend below the ice cloud 3;000 at this time. ATC asked if I wanted vectors; I said yes ATC gave me a heading of 340. We flew this then a heading of 360 then I said to ATC I was losing them ATC asked what I meant; I could hardly hear them. Then [another aircraft] said they could hear us and could relay anything ATC needed us to. At that time ATC said take a heading of 310 at this time I called ATC to say I was going to abort the approach and go to ZZZ1. ATC said ZZZ1; then I said no I will continue the approach. ATC said if I would continue the approach I would have to go back to 3;600 feet. I said I could not due to the ice cloud. ATC then asked if I was declaring an emergency or would do the approach on my own. I said on my own. ATC said ok; stay on this frequency for advisories. I thought this canceled the IFR flight plan. Then I was asked again if I was declaring an emergency or cancel my IFR flight plan I said cancel the flight plan. In hindsight I should have closed my IFR flight plan when I saw the ground and not go if there is a chance of ice.
A PA-28 pilot reported encountering ice during an IFR flight cannot avoid icing at 3;600 feet required by ATC. He is prompted to declare an emergency or cancel IFR and chooses the later. The approach was successful.