Unable to maintain MEA account mountain wave.

Attributes
ACN	257155
Time
Date	199311
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sug
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 2 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute airway : v35
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 : 30 flight time total : 505 flight time type : 39
ASRS Report	257155
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While northbound on V-35 from sugarloaf mountain VOR we approached one of the mountains in the area. As we got closer, the more I realized we would probably get into some downdrafts. About this time the vsi showed a 500 FPM descent then 1000 ft. Center had called about this time wanting some information as to why I could not maintain 9000. I advised them of the situation and told them I would turn right into the valley towards hickory, nc. After heading northeast for a min I went back into a climb and returned to 9000 and original course. Then I requested 10000 which I received after contacting ZID. Actions I feel pilots should take are precautions on MEA's. Fly at least 3000 to 5000 ft above peaks, even if they are in a twin engine plane, to avoid mountain downdrafts. Also the FAA should consider raising the MEA to a higher altitude on V-35 north of busic intersection. Don't be fooled into thinking that mountain waves and downdrafts are easy to get out of in a twin because this pilot found out they aren't.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: UNABLE TO MAINTAIN MEA ACCOUNT MOUNTAIN WAVE.

Narrative: WHILE NBOUND ON V-35 FROM SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN VOR WE APCHED ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS IN THE AREA. AS WE GOT CLOSER, THE MORE I REALIZED WE WOULD PROBABLY GET INTO SOME DOWNDRAFTS. ABOUT THIS TIME THE VSI SHOWED A 500 FPM DSCNT THEN 1000 FT. CTR HAD CALLED ABOUT THIS TIME WANTING SOME INFO AS TO WHY I COULD NOT MAINTAIN 9000. I ADVISED THEM OF THE SIT AND TOLD THEM I WOULD TURN R INTO THE VALLEY TOWARDS HICKORY, NC. AFTER HDG NE FOR A MIN I WENT BACK INTO A CLB AND RETURNED TO 9000 AND ORIGINAL COURSE. THEN I REQUESTED 10000 WHICH I RECEIVED AFTER CONTACTING ZID. ACTIONS I FEEL PLTS SHOULD TAKE ARE PRECAUTIONS ON MEA'S. FLY AT LEAST 3000 TO 5000 FT ABOVE PEAKS, EVEN IF THEY ARE IN A TWIN ENG PLANE, TO AVOID MOUNTAIN DOWNDRAFTS. ALSO THE FAA SHOULD CONSIDER RAISING THE MEA TO A HIGHER ALT ON V-35 N OF BUSIC INTXN. DON'T BE FOOLED INTO THINKING THAT MOUNTAIN WAVES AND DOWNDRAFTS ARE EASY TO GET OUT OF IN A TWIN BECAUSE THIS PLT FOUND OUT THEY AREN'T.

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.