Narrative:

During arrival into pit (previous leg) a convective SIGMET for moderate turbulence below 12000 ft was issued. No significant turbulence was experienced. During taxi out (next leg), tower advised of a PIREP from a commuter aircraft of severe turbulence on departure. We took ourselves out of the departure sequence to study the radar and other visible WX conditions. No significant radar data was indicated for our direction of flight. Winds on the surface were down the runway (runway 14), less than 10 KTS. We specifically asked tower for reported windshear and differences in field boundary winds. There were none. No other PIREPS for severe turbulence existed. Some virga was noted 5-10 mi off the departure end of the runway. Several other aircraft departed and issued PIREPS of moderate turbulence. We then accepted takeoff clearance. During departure, between 3000-5000 ft MSL, we experienced severe turbulence. Our original clearance was to 5000 ft, but departure stopped our climb at 4000 ft for traffic. This probably prolonged our exposure to the turbulence. We made several heading changes to avoid the worst of the virga. Although it was difficult to maintain altitude and heading and even read the instruments, the aircraft performed normally. There was no indication of damage to the aircraft. All passenger were seated with seat belts fastened. No injuries were reported. A maintenance inspection was requested on arrival at destination. Damage was found around the cargo doors in the form of wrinkled skin.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DEPARTING MD88 RUNS INTO SEVERE TURB ABOUT 7 MI SE OF PIT, FROM 3000-4000 FT. PIREPS INDICATED POSSIBLE PRESENCE BUT RADAR SHOWED NOTHING. VISUALLY, VIRGA WERE SEEN IN THAT LOCATION.

Narrative: DURING ARR INTO PIT (PREVIOUS LEG) A CONVECTIVE SIGMET FOR MODERATE TURB BELOW 12000 FT WAS ISSUED. NO SIGNIFICANT TURB WAS EXPERIENCED. DURING TAXI OUT (NEXT LEG), TWR ADVISED OF A PIREP FROM A COMMUTER ACFT OF SEVERE TURB ON DEP. WE TOOK OURSELVES OUT OF THE DEP SEQUENCE TO STUDY THE RADAR AND OTHER VISIBLE WX CONDITIONS. NO SIGNIFICANT RADAR DATA WAS INDICATED FOR OUR DIRECTION OF FLT. WINDS ON THE SURFACE WERE DOWN THE RWY (RWY 14), LESS THAN 10 KTS. WE SPECIFICALLY ASKED TWR FOR RPTED WINDSHEAR AND DIFFERENCES IN FIELD BOUNDARY WINDS. THERE WERE NONE. NO OTHER PIREPS FOR SEVERE TURB EXISTED. SOME VIRGA WAS NOTED 5-10 MI OFF THE DEP END OF THE RWY. SEVERAL OTHER ACFT DEPARTED AND ISSUED PIREPS OF MODERATE TURB. WE THEN ACCEPTED TKOF CLRNC. DURING DEP, BTWN 3000-5000 FT MSL, WE EXPERIENCED SEVERE TURB. OUR ORIGINAL CLRNC WAS TO 5000 FT, BUT DEP STOPPED OUR CLB AT 4000 FT FOR TFC. THIS PROBABLY PROLONGED OUR EXPOSURE TO THE TURB. WE MADE SEVERAL HDG CHANGES TO AVOID THE WORST OF THE VIRGA. ALTHOUGH IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN ALT AND HDG AND EVEN READ THE INSTS, THE ACFT PERFORMED NORMALLY. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. ALL PAX WERE SEATED WITH SEAT BELTS FASTENED. NO INJURIES WERE RPTED. A MAINT INSPECTION WAS REQUESTED ON ARR AT DEST. DAMAGE WAS FOUND AROUND THE CARGO DOORS IN THE FORM OF WRINKLED SKIN.

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.