B737 flight crew experienced moderate to severe turbulence after takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	421746
Time
Date	199811
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dtw
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 626 msl bound upper : 3500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 19000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	421746
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

90 degree crosswind on takeoff, 25 KTS gusting to 35 KTS, moderate turbulence, low leveloff at 3000 ft MSL (airport elevation 626 ft). Began normal leveloff, but with turbulence, aircraft went to 3500 ft before I could arrest the ascent. A higher leveloff altitude, say 5000 ft, would have helped to prevent this. B737-400 climbs rapidly and combined with the turbulence I could not help but overshoot my assigned altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLC EXPERIENCED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURB AFTER TKOF.

Narrative: 90 DEG XWIND ON TKOF, 25 KTS GUSTING TO 35 KTS, MODERATE TURB, LOW LEVELOFF AT 3000 FT MSL (ARPT ELEVATION 626 FT). BEGAN NORMAL LEVELOFF, BUT WITH TURB, ACFT WENT TO 3500 FT BEFORE I COULD ARREST THE ASCENT. A HIGHER LEVELOFF ALT, SAY 5000 FT, WOULD HAVE HELPED TO PREVENT THIS. B737-400 CLBS RAPIDLY AND COMBINED WITH THE TURB I COULD NOT HELP BUT OVERSHOOT MY ASSIGNED ALT.

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.