Private instrument rated pilot of a piper PA28-140, descended below assigned cruise altitude due to up and downdraft turbulence in IMC conditions. ATC intervened and directed him back to his assigned altitude and provided the latest altimeter setting.

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Attributes
ACN	367870
Time
Date	199705
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cvg
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3600 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cvg
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 18 flight time total : 437 flight time type : 270
ASRS Report	367870
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

On an IFR flight being vectored to the north of the cvg VOR/greater cincinnati airport. Assigned altitude 4000 ft MSL. Conditions were IMC in clouds. Moderate-heavy turbulence, 35 KT winds, with significant updrafts and downdrafts. As a result of a downdraft I lost altitude down to 3600 ft MSL. ATC advised me to climb back to 4000 ft MSL and gave me the latest altimeter setting. In the future I may consider requesting an altitude block.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PVT INST RATED PLT OF A PIPER PA28-140, DSNDED BELOW ASSIGNED CRUISE ALT DUE TO UP AND DOWNDRAFT TURB IN IMC CONDITIONS. ATC INTERVENED AND DIRECTED HIM BACK TO HIS ASSIGNED ALT AND PROVIDED THE LATEST ALTIMETER SETTING.

Narrative: ON AN IFR FLT BEING VECTORED TO THE N OF THE CVG VOR/GREATER CINCINNATI ARPT. ASSIGNED ALT 4000 FT MSL. CONDITIONS WERE IMC IN CLOUDS. MODERATE-HVY TURB, 35 KT WINDS, WITH SIGNIFICANT UPDRAFTS AND DOWNDRAFTS. AS A RESULT OF A DOWNDRAFT I LOST ALT DOWN TO 3600 FT MSL. ATC ADVISED ME TO CLB BACK TO 4000 FT MSL AND GAVE ME THE LATEST ALTIMETER SETTING. IN THE FUTURE I MAY CONSIDER REQUESTING AN ALT BLOCK.

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.