Small aircraft in IMC has severe turbulence and resulting altitude deviation.

Attributes
ACN	250011
Time
Date	199308
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lhy airport : lvy
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8800
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : avp
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 490 flight time type : 390
ASRS Report	250011
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other anomaly
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:

I was on an IFR flight plan from sby to N32 (sayre, PA). After approximately 1 hour 30 mins of flight, cloud tops were rising to approximately 12000 ft. I was at 8000 ft. After passing through several cloud tops, I entered a larger one at cruise speed (120 KIAS) at 8000 ft. I encountered moderate turbulence and rain. There was an intense updraft that pegged the vsi. I reduced power and reduced airspeed to 95 KIAS, but I was still gaining altitude. The event lasted approximately 3 mins with airspds varying from 120-80 KIAS. I gained 800 ft before I was able to descend. During the worst of the turbulence, I entered bank angles to 35-40 degrees. Wilkes barre approach cleared me to descend to 6000 ft, but by this time I was through the turbulence. I should have reduced to va prior to entering cloud tops.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA IN IMC HAS SEVERE TURB AND RESULTING ALTDEV.

Narrative: I WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM SBY TO N32 (SAYRE, PA). AFTER APPROX 1 HR 30 MINS OF FLT, CLOUD TOPS WERE RISING TO APPROX 12000 FT. I WAS AT 8000 FT. AFTER PASSING THROUGH SEVERAL CLOUD TOPS, I ENTERED A LARGER ONE AT CRUISE SPD (120 KIAS) AT 8000 FT. I ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TURB AND RAIN. THERE WAS AN INTENSE UPDRAFT THAT PEGGED THE VSI. I REDUCED PWR AND REDUCED AIRSPD TO 95 KIAS, BUT I WAS STILL GAINING ALT. THE EVENT LASTED APPROX 3 MINS WITH AIRSPDS VARYING FROM 120-80 KIAS. I GAINED 800 FT BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO DSND. DURING THE WORST OF THE TURB, I ENTERED BANK ANGLES TO 35-40 DEGS. WILKES BARRE APCH CLRED ME TO DSND TO 6000 FT, BUT BY THIS TIME I WAS THROUGH THE TURB. I SHOULD HAVE REDUCED TO VA PRIOR TO ENTERING CLOUD TOPS.

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.