Flight crew encountered turbulence, declared an emergency, descended to smooth air.

Attributes
ACN	491304
Time
Date	200011
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mcn.airport
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : m87.tracon tower : gso.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Brasilia EMB-120 All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 3800 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	491304
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	controller non radar : 3 controller radar : 3 flight time last 90 days : 40 flight time total : 1800 flight time type : 40
ASRS Report	491538
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : turbulence inflight encounter : weather
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

While en route from atl to mcn we experienced moderate to severe turbulence at 9000 ft MSL at 45 NM west of mcn. We were not able to maintain altitude and aircraft control was difficult at times. An emergency was declared and a lower altitude was requested. We escaped the turbulence after about 5 mins and a 4000 ft MSL altitude change. The WX we flew through gave no indications of precipitation prior to entry. The radar was working normally, but the only indication of any type of WX were the clouds. After escaping the turbulence the flight continued to its destination without any other problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC ENCOUNTERED TURB, DECLARED AN EMER, DSNDED TO SMOOTH AIR.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE FROM ATL TO MCN WE EXPERIENCED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURB AT 9000 FT MSL AT 45 NM W OF MCN. WE WERE NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN ALT AND ACFT CTL WAS DIFFICULT AT TIMES. AN EMER WAS DECLARED AND A LOWER ALT WAS REQUESTED. WE ESCAPED THE TURB AFTER ABOUT 5 MINS AND A 4000 FT MSL ALT CHANGE. THE WX WE FLEW THROUGH GAVE NO INDICATIONS OF PRECIPITATION PRIOR TO ENTRY. THE RADAR WAS WORKING NORMALLY, BUT THE ONLY INDICATION OF ANY TYPE OF WX WERE THE CLOUDS. AFTER ESCAPING THE TURB THE FLT CONTINUED TO ITS DEST WITHOUT ANY OTHER PROBS.

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.