Altitude deviation account thunderstorms in the area.

Attributes
ACN	171334
Time
Date	199102
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pse
State Reference	PR
Altitude	msl bound lower : 15000 msl bound upper : 15400
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : mjzs
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 18000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	171334
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 200
ASRS Report	171210
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Penetrating a shower/thunderstorm area with light radar echos we were just leveling at 15000' when all hell broke loose. Airspeed fluctuated approximately 30 KTS. We gained about 300-400' altitude in severe turbulence, lasting about 15-20 seconds. Fortunately, no injuries and ATC advised. ATC noted altitude excursion and quickly cleared us to climb to 16000'. No damage to aircraft noted following severe turbulence inspection. Unusual for color radar type aircraft. No suggestions. Supplemental information from acn 171210: this may have been avoided if I had the autoplt engaged at the time, allowing more time to adjust the radar for a better view of what was ahead. The captain's view on his radar was much different from mine, but still gave little indication of severe WX.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALT DEVIATION ACCOUNT TSTMS IN THE AREA.

Narrative: PENETRATING A SHOWER/TSTM AREA WITH LIGHT RADAR ECHOS WE WERE JUST LEVELING AT 15000' WHEN ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE. AIRSPD FLUCTUATED APPROX 30 KTS. WE GAINED ABOUT 300-400' ALT IN SEVERE TURB, LASTING ABOUT 15-20 SECS. FORTUNATELY, NO INJURIES AND ATC ADVISED. ATC NOTED ALT EXCURSION AND QUICKLY CLRED US TO CLB TO 16000'. NO DAMAGE TO ACFT NOTED FOLLOWING SEVERE TURB INSPECTION. UNUSUAL FOR COLOR RADAR TYPE ACFT. NO SUGGESTIONS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 171210: THIS MAY HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF I HAD THE AUTOPLT ENGAGED AT THE TIME, ALLOWING MORE TIME TO ADJUST THE RADAR FOR A BETTER VIEW OF WHAT WAS AHEAD. THE CAPT'S VIEW ON HIS RADAR WAS MUCH DIFFERENT FROM MINE, BUT STILL GAVE LITTLE INDICATION OF SEVERE WX.

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.