Narrative:

I was working sector 66/68. Aircraft X was cleared from gbd to ZZZ. When aircraft X departed gbd I issued the pilot the weather between himself and ZZZ. As he got closer to the precipitation I called ZZZ approach and got flight conditions from another aircraft X company that was at 070 currently going through the precipitation. ZZZ approached advised that the [aircraft] @070 was experiencing severe turbulence. I advised aircraft X and he requested 030. I knew that I would not be able to talk to him at that altitude and ZZZ already had the handoff so I advised aircraft X to contact approach and they would have lower for him. A few minutes later I noticed aircraft X making a left turn away from the weather. The pilot checked back onto my frequency descending saying that he was in severe turbulence and needed to return to gbd. Aircraft X was above the mia around 3500 ft so I issued him a clearance to gbd via direct and if able maintain at or about 3400. The pilot advised that he was unable and he had experienced extreme turbulence. Aircraft X finally leveled off around 2800 ft. I advised the pilot again that the mia in his area was 3400 and if able climb an maintain 3800 (which is the mia enroute to gbd. I issued the pilot the NOTAMS and weather for gbd and a few minutes later the pilot reported gbd in sight. I cleared aircraft X for the visual approach and the pilot cancelled his IFR. Equip all aircraft with weather displaying equipment.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZKC Controller reported of an aircraft that had difficulty reaching its destination due to weather and turbulence. Aircraft turned away from destination and had to return to departure airport.

Narrative: I was working Sector 66/68. Aircraft X was cleared from GBD to ZZZ. When Aircraft X departed GBD I issued the pilot the weather between himself and ZZZ. As he got closer to the precipitation I called ZZZ approach and got flight conditions from another Aircraft X company that was at 070 currently going through the precipitation. ZZZ approached advised that the [aircraft] @070 was experiencing severe turbulence. I advised Aircraft X and he requested 030. I knew that I would not be able to talk to him at that altitude and ZZZ already had the handoff so I advised Aircraft X to contact approach and they would have lower for him. A few minutes later I noticed Aircraft X making a left turn away from the weather. The pilot checked back onto my frequency descending saying that he was in severe turbulence and needed to return to GBD. Aircraft X was above the MIA around 3500 ft so I issued him a clearance to GBD via direct and if able maintain at or about 3400. The pilot advised that he was unable and he had experienced extreme turbulence. Aircraft X finally leveled off around 2800 ft. I advised the pilot again that the MIA in his area was 3400 and if able climb an maintain 3800 (which is the MIA enroute to GBD. I issued the pilot the NOTAMS and Weather for GBD and a few minutes later the pilot reported GBD in sight. I cleared Aircraft X for the visual approach and the pilot cancelled his IFR. Equip all aircraft with weather displaying equipment.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.