An small aircraft pilot encountered turbulence.

Attributes
ACN	273605
Time
Date	199406
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : acy
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other other
Route In Use	enroute airway : zdc
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 4500 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	273605
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On jun/tue/94 at about XA30 I departed W29 northbound to hto. I was climbing to 9500 ft in VFR conditions to top some buildup along the route of flight and was in radar contact with baltimore approach. Upon leaving baltimore approach and contacting ZDC, I saw that I would not be able to top the buildup at 9500 ft, so I asked ZDC for an IFR clearance through the clouds to VFR on top. ZDC informed me that I needed to descend from my altitude of 8500 ft at that time, to 8000 ft for them to issue the clearance. As I started to descend, I was caught by severe updrafts and severe turbulence. I immediately informed the controller that I was doing a 180 degree turn to extract myself from the turbulence and continue to remain VFR. He then informed me that he was declaring an emergency. I responded, negative emergency! As soon as I cleared the turbulence and updrafts, I informed the controller that I was in stable VFR conditions. He then stated he would stop the emergency. I then continued VFR eastbound around the area of turbulence, remaining with center to my destination.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA PLT ENCOUNTERED TURB.

Narrative: ON JUN/TUE/94 AT ABOUT XA30 I DEPARTED W29 NBOUND TO HTO. I WAS CLBING TO 9500 FT IN VFR CONDITIONS TO TOP SOME BUILDUP ALONG THE RTE OF FLT AND WAS IN RADAR CONTACT WITH BALTIMORE APCH. UPON LEAVING BALTIMORE APCH AND CONTACTING ZDC, I SAW THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TOP THE BUILDUP AT 9500 FT, SO I ASKED ZDC FOR AN IFR CLRNC THROUGH THE CLOUDS TO VFR ON TOP. ZDC INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED TO DSND FROM MY ALT OF 8500 FT AT THAT TIME, TO 8000 FT FOR THEM TO ISSUE THE CLRNC. AS I STARTED TO DSND, I WAS CAUGHT BY SEVERE UPDRAFTS AND SEVERE TURB. I IMMEDIATELY INFORMED THE CTLR THAT I WAS DOING A 180 DEG TURN TO EXTRACT MYSELF FROM THE TURB AND CONTINUE TO REMAIN VFR. HE THEN INFORMED ME THAT HE WAS DECLARING AN EMER. I RESPONDED, NEGATIVE EMER! AS SOON AS I CLRED THE TURB AND UPDRAFTS, I INFORMED THE CTLR THAT I WAS IN STABLE VFR CONDITIONS. HE THEN STATED HE WOULD STOP THE EMER. I THEN CONTINUED VFR EBOUND AROUND THE AREA OF TURB, REMAINING WITH CTR TO MY DEST.

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.