In-flight WX encounter, small aircraft in severe turbulence unable to maintain assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	117005
Time
Date	198907
Day	Sun
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ekn
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tracon : ckb
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 36 flight time total : 3100 flight time type : 536
ASRS Report	117005
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

The thunderstorms developed very quickly (not in forecast) about 50 NM ahead of my position. I believe I was the 1ST one thru. At least at that altitude in working with center and approach, I was attempting to avoid the heavy precipitation/turbulence en route from springfield, il to frederick, md (non stop). Severe downdrafts (accompanied by heavy precipitation, lightning and IMC) forced me down to 8000'+/- from assigned 9000' altitude. This happened several times, even though I was in maximum climb confign. Center and approach were very little help. In fact clarksburg approach vectored me into more severe turbulence while I was being lined up for the lda-C approach at elkins (non scheduled stop) to wait out the WX.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INFLT WX ENCOUNTER, SMA IN SEVERE TURBULENCE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: THE TSTMS DEVELOPED VERY QUICKLY (NOT IN FORECAST) ABOUT 50 NM AHEAD OF MY POSITION. I BELIEVE I WAS THE 1ST ONE THRU. AT LEAST AT THAT ALT IN WORKING WITH CENTER AND APCH, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO AVOID THE HEAVY PRECIP/TURB ENRTE FROM SPRINGFIELD, IL TO FREDERICK, MD (NON STOP). SEVERE DOWNDRAFTS (ACCOMPANIED BY HEAVY PRECIP, LIGHTNING AND IMC) FORCED ME DOWN TO 8000'+/- FROM ASSIGNED 9000' ALT. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, EVEN THOUGH I WAS IN MAX CLIMB CONFIGN. CENTER AND APCH WERE VERY LITTLE HELP. IN FACT CLARKSBURG APCH VECTORED ME INTO MORE SEVERE TURB WHILE I WAS BEING LINED UP FOR THE LDA-C APCH AT ELKINS (NON SCHEDULED STOP) TO WAIT OUT THE WX.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.