Uncontrollable turbulence took small aircraft aircraft 500' above assigned altitude.

Attributes
ACN	140652
Time
Date	199003
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : elk
State Reference	WV
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, High Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 27 flight time total : 20000 flight time type : 1900
ASRS Report	140652
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : regained aircraft control
Consequence	faa : investigated faa : assigned or threatened penalties
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Over the west virginia mountains approximately 25 NM south elk a severe gust took me up to approximately 9400' to 9500' and I had to reduce throttle to get back to cruise altitude of 9000'. While descending the controller advised me of being high. My reply, 'I am descending.' back at 9000', the controller in a hyper high pitch very fast voice told me as soon as I land or on the ground to call the closest sheriff's office at once. My reply, 'I don't understand.' the center rattled the sheriff thing off fast again. I then requested climb to 11000' which center gave me. I was then told to contact a washington telephone number on monday and had to give a readback. After all of this confusion, I requested landing at elk, wv. Center gave me a clearance to 9000' and to contact clarksburg approach control. Clarksburg approach gave me vectors for VFR to elk airport and I landed. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: I called FAA and they said they would send me a letter which they did and I replied to the letter to charleston, wv FSDO. I have now received a letter advising me I am on probation for 2 yrs, no further violations and it will be taken off my record.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNCONTROLLABLE TURBULENCE TOOK SMA ACFT 500' ABOVE ASSIGNED ALT.

Narrative: OVER THE WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINS APPROX 25 NM S ELK A SEVERE GUST TOOK ME UP TO APPROX 9400' TO 9500' AND I HAD TO REDUCE THROTTLE TO GET BACK TO CRUISE ALT OF 9000'. WHILE DESCENDING THE CTLR ADVISED ME OF BEING HIGH. MY REPLY, 'I AM DESCENDING.' BACK AT 9000', THE CTLR IN A HYPER HIGH PITCH VERY FAST VOICE TOLD ME AS SOON AS I LAND OR ON THE GND TO CALL THE CLOSEST SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT ONCE. MY REPLY, 'I DON'T UNDERSTAND.' THE CENTER RATTLED THE SHERIFF THING OFF FAST AGAIN. I THEN REQUESTED CLIMB TO 11000' WHICH CENTER GAVE ME. I WAS THEN TOLD TO CONTACT A WASHINGTON TELEPHONE NUMBER ON MONDAY AND HAD TO GIVE A READBACK. AFTER ALL OF THIS CONFUSION, I REQUESTED LNDG AT ELK, WV. CENTER GAVE ME A CLRNC TO 9000' AND TO CONTACT CLARKSBURG APCH CTL. CLARKSBURG APCH GAVE ME VECTORS FOR VFR TO ELK ARPT AND I LANDED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: I CALLED FAA AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD SEND ME A LETTER WHICH THEY DID AND I REPLIED TO THE LETTER TO CHARLESTON, WV FSDO. I HAVE NOW RECEIVED A LETTER ADVISING ME I AM ON PROBATION FOR 2 YRS, NO FURTHER VIOLATIONS AND IT WILL BE TAKEN OFF MY RECORD.

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.