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An IFR small aircraft pilot got into a thunderstorm and gained 2800 ft inadvertently, the aircraft brought back under control.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 211063 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199205 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : tul |
| State Reference | OK |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 7800 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | IMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zme |
| Operator | general aviation : instructional |
| Make Model Name | Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear |
| Flight Phase | cruise other |
| Route In Use | arrival other enroute airway : zme |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 2100 flight time type : 300 |
| ASRS Report | 211063 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : radar |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather other anomaly |
| Independent Detector | other controllera other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Weather |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
On an IFR flight plan flying through an area of convective activity on the east side of a front heading north, I had received clearance to deviate as necessary to avoid buildups. The plane I was flying, small aircraft, has no WX avoidance equipment. I entered a cloud which appeared to be harmless but proved to be otherwise. I entered a cell and the aircraft started an uncontrollable climb in which we went from our assigned altitude of 5000 ft to approximately 7800 ft MSL. The airplane went into a steep bank from which I recovered on an easterly heading. I was busy controling the aircraft and the controller was busy processing a flight plan so there was no conversation during the altitude excursion. I suspect that the 'event' took approximately 30 seconds. At about the same time that I recovered control of the aircraft, the controller asked me to verify my altitude. I responded 1) what my altitude was, 2) that I was returning to my assigned altitude and 3) that I was unable to advise him of the altitude excursion while it was going on.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN IFR SMA PLT GOT INTO A TSTM AND GAINED 2800 FT INADVERTENTLY, THE ACFT BROUGHT BACK UNDER CTL.
Narrative: ON AN IFR FLT PLAN FLYING THROUGH AN AREA OF CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY ON THE E SIDE OF A FRONT HDG N, I HAD RECEIVED CLRNC TO DEVIATE AS NECESSARY TO AVOID BUILDUPS. THE PLANE I WAS FLYING, SMA, HAS NO WX AVOIDANCE EQUIP. I ENTERED A CLOUD WHICH APPEARED TO BE HARMLESS BUT PROVED TO BE OTHERWISE. I ENTERED A CELL AND THE ACFT STARTED AN UNCTLABLE CLB IN WHICH WE WENT FROM OUR ASSIGNED ALT OF 5000 FT TO APPROX 7800 FT MSL. THE AIRPLANE WENT INTO A STEEP BANK FROM WHICH I RECOVERED ON AN EASTERLY HDG. I WAS BUSY CTLING THE ACFT AND THE CTLR WAS BUSY PROCESSING A FLT PLAN SO THERE WAS NO CONVERSATION DURING THE ALT EXCURSION. I SUSPECT THAT THE 'EVENT' TOOK APPROX 30 SECONDS. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME THAT I RECOVERED CTL OF THE ACFT, THE CTLR ASKED ME TO VERIFY MY ALT. I RESPONDED 1) WHAT MY ALT WAS, 2) THAT I WAS RETURNING TO MY ASSIGNED ALT AND 3) THAT I WAS UNABLE TO ADVISE HIM OF THE ALT EXCURSION WHILE IT WAS GOING ON.
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.