Cargo flight encounters WX with severe up and downdrafts.

Attributes
ACN	168132
Time
Date	199101
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : act
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 32400 msl bound upper : 37400
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zfw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Heavy Transport, Low Wing, 4 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	168132
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 3700 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	167900
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter other other anomaly other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : regained aircraft control
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On a direct route from elp-cew, en route to mco at cruise FL330, we were in IMC conditions getting a very smooth ride. Our radar was not painting any thunderstorm activity in our immediate area. We initiated a climb to FL370. About 300' into the climb we caught an updraft which immediately increased our rate of climb, but to no avail. We got the aircraft leveled off and under control at about 37400'. We then hit a downdraft on the other side and began to be pulled down. We couldn't maintain altitude. We informed ATC we were in a descent and would try to maintain FL330. We got the aircraft under control at about 32400', arrested the descent and climbed back to FL330. All indications in the aircraft appeared normal at this point, and for the remainder of the flight. Aircraft ctlability also appeared normal. No indications of structural problems existed. Flight was continued to our destination where a structural inspection was accomplished.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CARGO FLT ENCOUNTERS WX WITH SEVERE UP AND DOWNDRAFTS.

Narrative: ON A DIRECT RTE FROM ELP-CEW, ENRTE TO MCO AT CRUISE FL330, WE WERE IN IMC CONDITIONS GETTING A VERY SMOOTH RIDE. OUR RADAR WAS NOT PAINTING ANY TSTM ACTIVITY IN OUR IMMEDIATE AREA. WE INITIATED A CLB TO FL370. ABOUT 300' INTO THE CLB WE CAUGHT AN UPDRAFT WHICH IMMEDIATELY INCREASED OUR RATE OF CLB, BUT TO NO AVAIL. WE GOT THE ACFT LEVELED OFF AND UNDER CTL AT ABOUT 37400'. WE THEN HIT A DOWNDRAFT ON THE OTHER SIDE AND BEGAN TO BE PULLED DOWN. WE COULDN'T MAINTAIN ALT. WE INFORMED ATC WE WERE IN A DSNT AND WOULD TRY TO MAINTAIN FL330. WE GOT THE ACFT UNDER CTL AT ABOUT 32400', ARRESTED THE DSNT AND CLBED BACK TO FL330. ALL INDICATIONS IN THE ACFT APPEARED NORMAL AT THIS POINT, AND FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT. ACFT CTLABILITY ALSO APPEARED NORMAL. NO INDICATIONS OF STRUCTURAL PROBS EXISTED. FLT WAS CONTINUED TO OUR DEST WHERE A STRUCTURAL INSPECTION WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

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.