Narrative:

While en route climb from prc to abq, the plane experienced severe downdrafts and updrafts. The WX briefing forecast severe turbulence. During the climb to 11000 ft MSL, I asked for a block altitude between 10500-11500 ft. The center controller cleared me for a block altitude 11000-12000 ft. At 10500 ft, I experienced a downdraft of approximately 700 FPM. Full throttle and best climb airspeed still showed a 500 FPM descent. At 10000 ft the ARTCC controller informed me of the MEA of 10500 ft MSL. I informed him that I was MVFR and that I would cancel IFR. The tops were from 9500 ft to 11500 ft and we were barely VFR. About that time I was flying over a clear hole that extended to the ground. I attempted to climb and continue to abq in hopes of staying VFR on top. Unfortunately, while circling in the hole, I was unable to climb. The vsi did not budge into the positive side. The clear hole just happened to be over the sedona airport. Once I had a visual on the airport, I canceled flight following and descended in VFR conditions and landed uneventfully. Other aircraft on frequency were reporting moderate to severe turbulence. I should have climbed to 11500 ft over drk VOR, then departed. If I couldn't see sedona, I would have turned back to prc and shot the VOR approach.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A LOW TIME COMMERCIAL PLT IN A GRUMMAN CHEETAH DIVERTS TO SEDONA ARPT WHEN UNABLE TO CLB TO ASSIGNED ALT IN PROX OF SEVERE TURB AND DOWNDRAFTS.

Narrative: WHILE ENRTE CLB FROM PRC TO ABQ, THE PLANE EXPERIENCED SEVERE DOWNDRAFTS AND UPDRAFTS. THE WX BRIEFING FORECAST SEVERE TURB. DURING THE CLB TO 11000 FT MSL, I ASKED FOR A BLOCK ALT BTWN 10500-11500 FT. THE CTR CTLR CLRED ME FOR A BLOCK ALT 11000-12000 FT. AT 10500 FT, I EXPERIENCED A DOWNDRAFT OF APPROX 700 FPM. FULL THROTTLE AND BEST CLB AIRSPD STILL SHOWED A 500 FPM DSCNT. AT 10000 FT THE ARTCC CTLR INFORMED ME OF THE MEA OF 10500 FT MSL. I INFORMED HIM THAT I WAS MVFR AND THAT I WOULD CANCEL IFR. THE TOPS WERE FROM 9500 FT TO 11500 FT AND WE WERE BARELY VFR. ABOUT THAT TIME I WAS FLYING OVER A CLR HOLE THAT EXTENDED TO THE GND. I ATTEMPTED TO CLB AND CONTINUE TO ABQ IN HOPES OF STAYING VFR ON TOP. UNFORTUNATELY, WHILE CIRCLING IN THE HOLE, I WAS UNABLE TO CLB. THE VSI DID NOT BUDGE INTO THE POSITIVE SIDE. THE CLR HOLE JUST HAPPENED TO BE OVER THE SEDONA ARPT. ONCE I HAD A VISUAL ON THE ARPT, I CANCELED FLT FOLLOWING AND DSNDED IN VFR CONDITIONS AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. OTHER ACFT ON FREQ WERE RPTING MODERATE TO SEVERE TURB. I SHOULD HAVE CLBED TO 11500 FT OVER DRK VOR, THEN DEPARTED. IF I COULDN'T SEE SEDONA, I WOULD HAVE TURNED BACK TO PRC AND SHOT THE VOR APCH.

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.