After departure the pilot of a C172S was not able to maintain the required climb performance because...

Attributes
ACN	1090773
Time
Date	201305
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Private Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 5 Flight Crew Total 255 Flight Crew Type 240
Events
Anomaly	Airspace Violation All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter CFTT / CFIT Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

Narrative:

During the climbout departure gave instructions to turn left heading 080 and climb to 7;000 feet. At around 4;400 feet my climb started to degrade and airspeed started to decrease. I quickly realized that I was now in a downdraft and I was unable to maintain at least a 500 FPM climb. As the flight progressed the controller asked if I had the mountain ahead of me in sight and I told the controller I did. The controller thence gave instructions to turn west and continue my climb to 7;000 feet and once over the airfield to turn south.once on the heading of 180 the controller gave instructions to turn 080 and continue my climb. According to the controller I went below the minimum vectoring altitude causing a deviation. After reaching my cruise altitude I realized I failed to communicate with ATC when I was unable to continue a safe climb while in the downdraft and nearing mountainous terrain. It was truly a lesson for me to speak up and talk to ATC when in this situation. I took for granted that although operating in VMC conditions and under the direction of ATC; safety and communication will always remain the key to flying safely.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: After departure the pilot of a C172S was not able to maintain the required climb performance because of downdrafts in mountainous terrain; and additionally failed to stay in contact with ATC. Upon reaching cruise altitude the Departure Controller informed him that he had descended below the MVA.

Narrative: During the climbout Departure gave instructions to turn left heading 080 and climb to 7;000 feet. At around 4;400 feet my climb started to degrade and airspeed started to decrease. I quickly realized that I was now in a downdraft and I was unable to maintain at least a 500 FPM climb. As the flight progressed the Controller asked if I had the mountain ahead of me in sight and I told the Controller I did. The Controller thence gave instructions to turn west and continue my climb to 7;000 feet and once over the Airfield to turn south.Once on the heading of 180 the Controller gave instructions to turn 080 and continue my climb. According to the Controller I went below the Minimum vectoring altitude causing a deviation. After reaching my cruise altitude I realized I failed to communicate with ATC when I was unable to continue a safe climb while in the downdraft and nearing mountainous terrain. It was truly a lesson for me to speak up and talk to ATC when in this situation. I took for granted that although operating in VMC conditions and under the direction of ATC; safety and communication will always remain the key to flying safely.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

After departure the pilot of a C172S was not able to maintain the required climb performance because of downdrafts in mountainous terrain; and additionally failed to stay in contact with ATC. Upon reaching cruise altitude the departure controller informed him that he had descended below the MVA.