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.

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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.