Pilot, due to turbulence, allowed heading to vary -60 degrees.

Attributes
ACN	334660
Time
Date	199605
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lns
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 5000 msl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mdt
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 1300 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	334660
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying IFR at 5000 ft in moderate rain and moderate turbulence. I was tracking to the lns VOR on a heading of approximately 090 degrees. I started to encounter heavier rain and moderate to severe turbulence. The aircraft heading varied in the turbulence between 030 degrees and 090 degrees. Harrisburg approach called and asked my heading to which I replied 030 degrees. They told me they had a B727 departing mdt and they needed to know if I was going to change headings from my direct course to the VOR. In severe turbulence of this nature, the pilot has very little control over the aircraft's heading. I advised them of the flight conditions and as soon as I was able I returned on course. I did not intentionally turn off course. I am a cfii and I am aware of having to advise when you have to deviate to avoid WX. My situation was one of turbulence momentarily putting my aircraft out of control. I hope ATC realizes that sometimes in small aircraft (PA32), the pilot is doing the best he can but heading and altitude may vary in turbulent sits. I do not believe this caused any conflict with traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT, DUE TO TURB, ALLOWED HDG TO VARY -60 DEGS.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING IFR AT 5000 FT IN MODERATE RAIN AND MODERATE TURB. I WAS TRACKING TO THE LNS VOR ON A HDG OF APPROX 090 DEGS. I STARTED TO ENCOUNTER HEAVIER RAIN AND MODERATE TO SEVERE TURB. THE ACFT HDG VARIED IN THE TURB BTWN 030 DEGS AND 090 DEGS. HARRISBURG APCH CALLED AND ASKED MY HDG TO WHICH I REPLIED 030 DEGS. THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD A B727 DEPARTING MDT AND THEY NEEDED TO KNOW IF I WAS GOING TO CHANGE HDGS FROM MY DIRECT COURSE TO THE VOR. IN SEVERE TURB OF THIS NATURE, THE PLT HAS VERY LITTLE CTL OVER THE ACFT'S HDG. I ADVISED THEM OF THE FLT CONDITIONS AND AS SOON AS I WAS ABLE I RETURNED ON COURSE. I DID NOT INTENTIONALLY TURN OFF COURSE. I AM A CFII AND I AM AWARE OF HAVING TO ADVISE WHEN YOU HAVE TO DEVIATE TO AVOID WX. MY SIT WAS ONE OF TURB MOMENTARILY PUTTING MY ACFT OUT OF CTL. I HOPE ATC REALIZES THAT SOMETIMES IN SMALL ACFT (PA32), THE PLT IS DOING THE BEST HE CAN BUT HDG AND ALT MAY VARY IN TURBULENT SITS. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS CAUSED ANY CONFLICT WITH TFC.

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.