A lear 35 experienced an altitude deviation when trying to top heavy WX.

Attributes
ACN	336787
Time
Date	199605
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zzz
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl bound lower : 41000 msl bound upper : 45000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp tower : abq
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Learjet 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 75 flight time total : 3100 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	336787
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : regained aircraft control other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Center advised us of a line of thunderstorm activity ahead that would be in conflict with our current flight path. Additionally, we were given clearance to divert as required. This report was backed by our radar. At the time we were VMC and could see the line and the tops. There was a clear path to the south which would not require a change in altitude and would add 10 mins to the trip. Fuel was not a factor. In looking at the radar, my advice to the captain was to go south, and the tops were higher than the aircraft's service ceiling of FL450. The PIC said, 'the radar may not be correct and it looks like we can climb over it.' as we continued, we put FL410 on request and because we were the only aircraft attempting to fly over the system, we were given FL410. As we started crossing the top, turbulence picked up and we were becoming IMC. We requested FL450 -- again cleared to climb. At FL450 we hit severe turbulence, still IMC. The aircraft was pushed 2000 ft up to FL470, the autoplt kicked off and the aircraft rolled 30 degrees to the right. The IAS fell off and angle of attack increased towards stick shaker. I increased the throttles slowly to prevent flameout or a stall. Shortly after that, the aircraft came back to VMC and we descended back to FL450. While at FL470, the PIC requested FL470, which was given to us. After the event, the PIC told me that the reason why he wanted to go over the top was to show me what the lear 35 could do.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A LEAR 35 EXPERIENCED AN ALTDEV WHEN TRYING TO TOP HVY WX.

Narrative: CTR ADVISED US OF A LINE OF TSTM ACTIVITY AHEAD THAT WOULD BE IN CONFLICT WITH OUR CURRENT FLT PATH. ADDITIONALLY, WE WERE GIVEN CLRNC TO DIVERT AS REQUIRED. THIS RPT WAS BACKED BY OUR RADAR. AT THE TIME WE WERE VMC AND COULD SEE THE LINE AND THE TOPS. THERE WAS A CLR PATH TO THE S WHICH WOULD NOT REQUIRE A CHANGE IN ALT AND WOULD ADD 10 MINS TO THE TRIP. FUEL WAS NOT A FACTOR. IN LOOKING AT THE RADAR, MY ADVICE TO THE CAPT WAS TO GO S, AND THE TOPS WERE HIGHER THAN THE ACFT'S SVC CEILING OF FL450. THE PIC SAID, 'THE RADAR MAY NOT BE CORRECT AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE CAN CLB OVER IT.' AS WE CONTINUED, WE PUT FL410 ON REQUEST AND BECAUSE WE WERE THE ONLY ACFT ATTEMPTING TO FLY OVER THE SYS, WE WERE GIVEN FL410. AS WE STARTED XING THE TOP, TURB PICKED UP AND WE WERE BECOMING IMC. WE REQUESTED FL450 -- AGAIN CLRED TO CLB. AT FL450 WE HIT SEVERE TURB, STILL IMC. THE ACFT WAS PUSHED 2000 FT UP TO FL470, THE AUTOPLT KICKED OFF AND THE ACFT ROLLED 30 DEGS TO THE R. THE IAS FELL OFF AND ANGLE OF ATTACK INCREASED TOWARDS STICK SHAKER. I INCREASED THE THROTTLES SLOWLY TO PREVENT FLAMEOUT OR A STALL. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE ACFT CAME BACK TO VMC AND WE DSNDED BACK TO FL450. WHILE AT FL470, THE PIC REQUESTED FL470, WHICH WAS GIVEN TO US. AFTER THE EVENT, THE PIC TOLD ME THAT THE REASON WHY HE WANTED TO GO OVER THE TOP WAS TO SHOW ME WHAT THE LEAR 35 COULD DO.

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.