<< >> NASA ASRS Report 452740, October 1999

An instrument rated private pilot flying an experimental single engine aircraft near mad failed to maintain altitude as assigned by ATC.

Attributes
ACN	452740
Time
Date	199910
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : mad.vor
State Reference	CT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5300
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Experimental
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	other vortac
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 47 flight time total : 603 flight time type : 323
ASRS Report	452740
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : turbulence non adherence : far non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I had arrived at hvn about 45 mins earlier under smooth stratus with no turbulence. After climb out from hvn in visual conditions, once at 5000 ft initial altitude, I was vectored into IMC. My speed entering IMC was about 135 KTS. Updrafts lifted me to approximately 5300 ft. I pushed the nose over and cut throttle to maintain/return to assigned altitude. Airspeed remained over va in moderate turbulence. I did not descend abruptly for fear of overspd in turbulence. The controller advised I was at 5300 ft and to descend. Once airspeed decayed and the updraft subsided, I returned to 5000 ft. I probably exceeded 5300 ft by perhaps less than 100 ft. If I had known the turbulence in the northeast region had overrun hvn I would have kept speed below va before entering IMC. I had trusted my own observations 45 mins prior.

Related reports:

• Private pilot of an experimental home built aircraft entered...

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.37000feet.com

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN INST RATED PVT PLT FLYING AN EXPERIMENTAL SINGLE ENG ACFT NEAR MAD FAILED TO MAINTAIN ALT AS ASSIGNED BY ATC.

Narrative: I HAD ARRIVED AT HVN ABOUT 45 MINS EARLIER UNDER SMOOTH STRATUS WITH NO TURB. AFTER CLBOUT FROM HVN IN VISUAL CONDITIONS, ONCE AT 5000 FT INITIAL ALT, I WAS VECTORED INTO IMC. MY SPD ENTERING IMC WAS ABOUT 135 KTS. UPDRAFTS LIFTED ME TO APPROX 5300 FT. I PUSHED THE NOSE OVER AND CUT THROTTLE TO MAINTAIN/RETURN TO ASSIGNED ALT. AIRSPD REMAINED OVER VA IN MODERATE TURB. I DID NOT DSND ABRUPTLY FOR FEAR OF OVERSPD IN TURB. THE CTLR ADVISED I WAS AT 5300 FT AND TO DSND. ONCE AIRSPD DECAYED AND THE UPDRAFT SUBSIDED, I RETURNED TO 5000 FT. I PROBABLY EXCEEDED 5300 FT BY PERHAPS LESS THAN 100 FT. IF I HAD KNOWN THE TURB IN THE NE REGION HAD OVERRUN HVN I WOULD HAVE KEPT SPD BELOW VA BEFORE ENTERING IMC. I HAD TRUSTED MY OWN OBSERVATIONS 45 MINS PRIOR.

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.