C152 pilot encounters severe turbulence after penetrating a dark cloud.

Attributes
ACN	618587
Time
Date	200405
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zme.artcc
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3900 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence other
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zme.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	618587
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : turbulence other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I was IFR still in my climb to 5000 ft. Between 4000-4500 ft, I was penetrating a cloud and decided it would be wise to request a lower altitude. I was cleared to 3000 ft. As I began my descent, I encountered severe turbulence and possibly windshear. I lost approximately 600 ft and was off my heading. I feel that while flying a small plane, penetrating a dark cloud is not a good idea. I believe that the upset/spin training I have received during my training was very valuable.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C152 PLT ENCOUNTERS SEVERE TURB AFTER PENETRATING A DARK CLOUD.

Narrative: I WAS IFR STILL IN MY CLB TO 5000 FT. BTWN 4000-4500 FT, I WAS PENETRATING A CLOUD AND DECIDED IT WOULD BE WISE TO REQUEST A LOWER ALT. I WAS CLRED TO 3000 FT. AS I BEGAN MY DSCNT, I ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURB AND POSSIBLY WINDSHEAR. I LOST APPROX 600 FT AND WAS OFF MY HDG. I FEEL THAT WHILE FLYING A SMALL PLANE, PENETRATING A DARK CLOUD IS NOT A GOOD IDEA. I BELIEVE THAT THE UPSET/SPIN TRAINING I HAVE RECEIVED DURING MY TRAINING WAS VERY VALUABLE.

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.