PLT OF A BEECH BARON DECLARED AN EMER AFTER DIVERTING TO LAND DUE TO PICKING UP ACFT ICE DURING AN IFR XCOUNTRY FLT.

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FLYING FROM SUS TO BHM ON AN IFR FLT PLAN. FILED FOR 3000 FT AND WAS FLYING AT 3000 FT; UNDER THE CLOUDS; WHEN ATC REQUIRED ME TO CLB TO 4000 FT FOR OBSTACLE CLRNC. WHEN I ARRIVED AT 4000 FT; I BEGAN SEEING ICE FORM ON THE WINGS; AND AFTER A FEW MINS; IT BEGAN ACCUMULATING FAST. I ASKED ATC FOR A DSCNT BACK TO 3000 FT ASAP AND THEN ASKED FOR THE CLOSEST ARPT WITH AN ILS. ATC ADVISED I WAS BTWN PADUCAH; KY; AND CAPE GIRARDEAU; MO. SINCE PADUCAH WAS ABOUT 20 MI STRAIGHT AHEAD; I OPTED FOR PADUCAH. WAS GIVEN A VECTOR FOR PADUCAH AND WAS OUT OF THE CLOUDS AND THE ICE WAS NO LONGER ACCUMULATING. WHILE STILL IN THE CLOUDS; I HAD EXERCISED THE BOOTS AND CLRED THE ICE OFF THE LEADING EDGES OF THE WINGS AND TAIL; BUT I KNEW I STILL HAD SOME ICE ON THE ACFT. WHEN I WAS HANDED OFF TO THE PADUCAH TWR; I WAS TOLD I WAS #2 TO LAND. SINCE I KNEW THERE WAS SOME ICE ON THE ACFT; I WANTED TO LAND WITH AS LITTLE MANEUVERING AS POSSIBLE. I TOLD THE PADUCAH TWR THAT I COULD NOT ACCEPT ANY DELAYS AND THE CTLR ASKED IF I WAS DECLARING AN EMER. SINCE I WANTED TO LAND WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MANEUVERING; I SAID YES. I WAS GIVEN PRIORITY OVER A KING AIR AND LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. DURING MY FINAL APCH; THE CTLR ASKED IF I NEEDED ANY ASSISTANCE AND I SAID NO.