Date: 201405
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: E10.TRACON, CA
Flight conditions: IMC
Weather elements / visibility: Icing; poor
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Small Transport; Low Wing; 2 Recip Eng
Flight plan: IFR
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class A ZOA
ATC / advisory: TRACON E10
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Approach
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Developmental
Human factors: Confusion; Training / Qualification
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance
Contributing factors: Airspace Structure; Weather
Primary problem: Weather

Narrative: While I was working on the Owens Sector; inclement weather began to develop. The Owens Sector; at the time; was an active MOA/ATTCA with several military aircraft operating within. Aircraft X was transitioning the airspace in route to The San Jose Airport (KSJC) from the east when he began to encounter poor visibility and light rime icing at 16;500 FT MSL. He sounded nervous and requested IFR services. I informed management of the developing situation and was advised that I could provide IFR service to Aircraft X as long as I provided positive separation between Aircraft X and the military aircraft. I quickly amended the clearances of the military aircraft to ensure positive separation. I than asked Aircraft X what altitude he would like to maintain and he advised [that] he would like to maintain his present altitude. I than cleared Aircraft X to KSJC Airport via direct and instructed him to maintain to his present altitude and advise reaching VMC. I was expecting the aircraft to be in VMC conditions in about five minutes based on radar depicted weather. I was not comfortable with having an IFR aircraft in the MOA and focused my attention on monitoring the military aircraft for compliance regarding separation. As my attention was focused on the military aircraft I inadvertently allowed Aircraft X to fly through a 16;700 foot MSL MVA at 16;500 feet MSL. Once it became apparent that Aircraft X was not going to find VMC in my airspace I amended his altitude in the FDIO and handed the aircraft off to ZOA. I than called ZOA and advised them that Aircraft X was IFR at 16;500 feet MSL for icing and was cleared direct to KSJC. After I shipped the aircraft to ZOA I than noticed that I had inadvertently allowed the aircraft to fly through a 16;700 foot MVA area.After reflecting on the situation I realize that I could have avoided the situation by climbing the aircraft or not allowing him to be IFR in the MOA. I could also ask for a hand-off to help monitor the traffic. I learned from the experience that I need to be more conscientious of MVAs and I know that any time I have to clear someone below 16;700 FT in the Owens Sector to exercise extra diligence.




Synopsis: E10 Controller reports of a situation where he is trying to get a VFR aircraft that is having icing problems and visibility problems to its destination. Aircraft enters a higher MVA than the aircraft is cleared to.