Narrative:

We were vectored south of course at coaldale at FL310. We were told by ATC to expect light to moderate turbulence. We requested a lower altitude but were told that it was worse lower. After turning back to the north we encountered very severe turbulence, requested a turn west and a descent, but was told unable due to restr area. Finally got a clearance to descend to FL270. During descent encountered severe windshear and severe turbulence to the point of losing some control of the aircraft at various times. Turbulence so severe you could not reach various controls and switches as were necessary. At one point, we lost 50 KTS instantly at which time the left wing dropped 30 degrees and the nose pitched down 10 degrees, we added power and regained speed and control. Lost some control at least twice in the shear. Came out of turbulence at FL200, rest of the flight was normal. Called company and requested aircraft be checked for airworthiness prior to next flight out of san jose. Landing in san jose was normal. All passenger and crew were in their seats with seat belts fastened prior to turbulence. There were no injuries or complaints prior to or after the flight. Flight recorder was pulled for read out and aircraft checked and signed off for flight by maintenance. An emergency could have been declared by me to enter the restr area, and next time that is exactly what I will do, but what we need to do is get a message to the FAA and the military that the safety of any aircraft is more important than practicing war games. ATC needs to be more in tune with the meaning of severe turbulence and immediately give an aircraft what it needs to exit this area even if it means clearing a restr area. I believe that our controller did his best by the rules he has to follow, it's the rules that need to be changed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG FLC ENCOUNTERS SEVERE TURB, EXPERIENCES LOSS OF ACFT CTL SW OF OAL.

Narrative: WE WERE VECTORED S OF COURSE AT COALDALE AT FL310. WE WERE TOLD BY ATC TO EXPECT LIGHT TO MODERATE TURB. WE REQUESTED A LOWER ALT BUT WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS WORSE LOWER. AFTER TURNING BACK TO THE N WE ENCOUNTERED VERY SEVERE TURB, REQUESTED A TURN W AND A DSCNT, BUT WAS TOLD UNABLE DUE TO RESTR AREA. FINALLY GOT A CLRNC TO DSND TO FL270. DURING DSCNT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE WINDSHEAR AND SEVERE TURB TO THE POINT OF LOSING SOME CTL OF THE ACFT AT VARIOUS TIMES. TURB SO SEVERE YOU COULD NOT REACH VARIOUS CTLS AND SWITCHES AS WERE NECESSARY. AT ONE POINT, WE LOST 50 KTS INSTANTLY AT WHICH TIME THE L WING DROPPED 30 DEGREES AND THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN 10 DEGS, WE ADDED PWR AND REGAINED SPD AND CTL. LOST SOME CTL AT LEAST TWICE IN THE SHEAR. CAME OUT OF TURB AT FL200, REST OF THE FLT WAS NORMAL. CALLED COMPANY AND REQUESTED ACFT BE CHKED FOR AIRWORTHINESS PRIOR TO NEXT FLT OUT OF SAN JOSE. LNDG IN SAN JOSE WAS NORMAL. ALL PAX AND CREW WERE IN THEIR SEATS WITH SEAT BELTS FASTENED PRIOR TO TURB. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR COMPLAINTS PRIOR TO OR AFTER THE FLT. FLT RECORDER WAS PULLED FOR READ OUT AND ACFT CHKED AND SIGNED OFF FOR FLT BY MAINT. AN EMER COULD HAVE BEEN DECLARED BY ME TO ENTER THE RESTR AREA, AND NEXT TIME THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I WILL DO, BUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GET A MESSAGE TO THE FAA AND THE MIL THAT THE SAFETY OF ANY ACFT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PRACTICING WAR GAMES. ATC NEEDS TO BE MORE IN TUNE WITH THE MEANING OF SEVERE TURB AND IMMEDIATELY GIVE AN ACFT WHAT IT NEEDS TO EXIT THIS AREA EVEN IF IT MEANS CLRING A RESTR AREA. I BELIEVE THAT OUR CTLR DID HIS BEST BY THE RULES HE HAS TO FOLLOW, IT'S THE RULES THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED.

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.