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A C310 CFI on an IFR flight plan runs into a downdraft and experiences an altitude deviation and temporary loss of aircraft control 8 mi from pom, ca.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 534837 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200201 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : poc.airport |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 4000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Weather Elements | Windshear |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : sct.tracon |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Cessna 310/T310C |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Navigation In Use | other vortac |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | approach : instrument non precision arrival : on vectors enroute : direct enroute : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 58.9 flight time total : 2305.3 flight time type : 575 |
| ASRS Report | 534837 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other non adherence : clearance other anomaly other anomaly other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | controller : issued alert flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : returned to original clearance |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Weather Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Weather |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
I was cleared to 4000 ft. Level at 4000 ft, I would get a vector, followed by a direct to, followed by a vector, followed by a direct to VOR 'a' approach to poc. I was on autoplt when all of a sudden I was requested to slow to 100 KTS. Told approach I could not slow that much, but would do the best I could. The next thing I know I was descending at 2000 FPM at slow speed on altitude hold with autoplt. At the same time, I was given a 'direct to.' the autoplt was now trying to climb to maintain altitude and airspeed was approaching stall. I disconnected autoplt, put in fire power and still could not climb at the same time. I could not make the 'direct to' turn because I was trying to stabilize the aircraft. Forecast had called for severe up- and downdrafts in the area, bug the air was smooth and it took me by surprise. ATC called me and admonished me about my altitude deviation and my not turning properly. By this time, I was stabilized and at altitude and heading and didn't give approach any excuses. The rest of the landing was uneventful.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A C310 CFI ON AN IFR FLT PLAN RUNS INTO A DOWNDRAFT AND EXPERIENCES AN ALTDEV AND TEMPORARY LOSS OF ACFT CTL 8 MI FROM POM, CA.
Narrative: I WAS CLRED TO 4000 FT. LEVEL AT 4000 FT, I WOULD GET A VECTOR, FOLLOWED BY A DIRECT TO, FOLLOWED BY A VECTOR, FOLLOWED BY A DIRECT TO VOR 'A' APCH TO POC. I WAS ON AUTOPLT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I WAS REQUESTED TO SLOW TO 100 KTS. TOLD APCH I COULD NOT SLOW THAT MUCH, BUT WOULD DO THE BEST I COULD. THE NEXT THING I KNOW I WAS DSNDING AT 2000 FPM AT SLOW SPD ON ALT HOLD WITH AUTOPLT. AT THE SAME TIME, I WAS GIVEN A 'DIRECT TO.' THE AUTOPLT WAS NOW TRYING TO CLB TO MAINTAIN ALT AND AIRSPD WAS APCHING STALL. I DISCONNECTED AUTOPLT, PUT IN FIRE PWR AND STILL COULD NOT CLB AT THE SAME TIME. I COULD NOT MAKE THE 'DIRECT TO' TURN BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO STABILIZE THE ACFT. FORECAST HAD CALLED FOR SEVERE UP- AND DOWNDRAFTS IN THE AREA, BUG THE AIR WAS SMOOTH AND IT TOOK ME BY SURPRISE. ATC CALLED ME AND ADMONISHED ME ABOUT MY ALTDEV AND MY NOT TURNING PROPERLY. BY THIS TIME, I WAS STABILIZED AND AT ALT AND HDG AND DIDN'T GIVE APCH ANY EXCUSES. THE REST OF THE LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL.
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.