Narrative:

I had just taken off [the] runway. Conditions were VFR; there was a chance of thunderstorms moving into the area; starting after 2000. This was going to be a short flight; and conditions were VFR; and we were going to just fly around. As I was climbing out; at vy; I encountered some slight turbulence and my right wing came up; and attempted to put in right aileron; but the wing kept rising. I put in full right aileron and wing still kept rising; and we were losing altitude. With the right bank; we were now coming back across the crossing runway. Because I wasn't getting a response; had gained speed and were low; I decide to reduce power. At this time; my nose dropped; and I was able to get the wings level. I was able to maneuver the plane back toward the runway; moving across the field at a low altitude and was climbing back up. I do not recall the lowest altitude I was at.at this point my [passenger] was extremely scared; and my only thought was to get the plane maneuvered back around for landing on [the] runway. In performing this maneuver; my altitude was much lower than it would be for flying an approach. I was flying as conservatively as I could; to calm my [passenger]; and assure I was doing my best to get the plane back to the runway and land the plane. My maneuver; was to gain a little more attitude; and then I performed a gradual/conservative 90/270 turn back to [the] runway; were I performed a normal landing (the plane responded to all flight control inputs.honestly; I don't know why the plane responded (or didn't respond). Upon landing; all the flight controls move and responded correctly. In my best assessment there may have been some sort of wind shear; I can't explain it; and I really don't know what it was that caused the plane to fly the way it did. The one thing I know is that this was a scary event; and I did my best to recover the aircraft and avoid any obstacle; etc.again; to the observer; I was a pilot flying the plane in an unsafe manner; but in reality; I did the best I could. I did as I was taught; fly the plane; trying to figure out how to get thing level and controlled; and then get it on the ground. All of my actions were to this end; even though I believe; I generally violated the flight rules.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA pilot reported losing control of his aircraft in turbulence during climb after takeoff. Control was recovered at very low altitude over the departure airport and the aircraft maneuvered for a normal landing.

Narrative: I had just taken off [the] runway. Conditions were VFR; there was a chance of thunderstorms moving into the area; starting after 2000. This was going to be a short flight; and conditions were VFR; and we were going to just fly around. As I was climbing out; at Vy; I encountered some slight turbulence and my right wing came up; and attempted to put in right aileron; but the wing kept rising. I put in full right aileron and wing still kept rising; and we were losing altitude. With the right bank; we were now coming back across the crossing runway. Because I wasn't getting a response; had gained speed and were low; I decide to reduce power. At this time; my nose dropped; and I was able to get the wings level. I was able to maneuver the plane back toward the Runway; moving across the field at a low altitude and was climbing back up. I do not recall the lowest altitude I was at.At this point my [passenger] was extremely scared; and my only thought was to get the plane maneuvered back around for landing on [the] runway. In performing this maneuver; my altitude was much lower than it would be for flying an approach. I was flying as conservatively as I could; to calm my [passenger]; and assure I was doing my best to get the plane back to the runway and land the plane. My maneuver; was to gain a little more attitude; and then I performed a gradual/conservative 90/270 turn back to [the] runway; were I performed a normal landing (the plane responded to all flight control inputs.Honestly; I don't know why the plane responded (or didn't respond). Upon landing; all the flight controls move and responded correctly. In my best assessment there may have been some sort of wind shear; I can't explain it; and I really don't know what it was that caused the plane to fly the way it did. The one thing I know is that this was a scary event; and I did my best to recover the aircraft and avoid any obstacle; etc.Again; to the observer; I was a pilot flying the plane in an unsafe manner; but in reality; I did the best I could. I did as I was taught; fly the plane; trying to figure out how to get thing level and controlled; and then get it on the ground. All of my actions were to this end; even though I believe; I generally violated the flight rules.

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.