GA small aircraft altitude deviation excursion from clearance altitude in severe turbulence.

Attributes
ACN	160209
Time
Date	199010
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : dtw
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dtw
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 360 flight time type : 318
ASRS Report	160209
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

In cruise we encountered severe turbulence losing altitude and knocking radio off frequency. I was at 3000' and it felt like there was no bottom, plane just fell. I put nose down and kept airspeed up, until plane was back in my control. I then contacted controller and advised.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA ALT DEVIATION EXCURSION FROM CLRNC ALT IN SEVERE TURBULENCE.

Narrative: IN CRUISE WE ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURB LOSING ALT AND KNOCKING RADIO OFF FREQ. I WAS AT 3000' AND IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO BOTTOM, PLANE JUST FELL. I PUT NOSE DOWN AND KEPT AIRSPD UP, UNTIL PLANE WAS BACK IN MY CTL. I THEN CONTACTED CTLR AND ADVISED.

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