C210 pilot encountered convective activity.

Attributes
ACN	444415
Time
Date	199907
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : tvt.vortac
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl single value : 11200
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm Turbulence
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zid.artcc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C, 210D
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1400 flight time type : 225
ASRS Report	444415
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed as precaution
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

Flying across ohio toward fwa, there were scattered thunderstorms. Visual avoidance was no problem at 10000 ft MSL. Then, with bright blue sky above, cloud tops rose to about 11000 ft. To see further ahead, I requested a climb to 12000 ft. During this climb, I entered the clouds and, apparently, a storm cell. Updrafts and downdrafts of 4000-5000 FPM caused me to change altitude and declare an emergency. ATC helped by vectoring me to mfd where I landed without incident. My rule for flying if isolated or scattered thunderstorms exist is to always remain visual to steer well clear. In this case, I broke the rule for about 1 min and got clobbered. The situation was deceptive with blue sky above my position (nothing above 11000 ft visible). Just beyond what I could see was something much larger. Climbing up to see what was happening was an ok strategy, but it should have commenced earlier.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C210 PLT ENCOUNTERED CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY.

Narrative: FLYING ACROSS OHIO TOWARD FWA, THERE WERE SCATTERED TSTMS. VISUAL AVOIDANCE WAS NO PROB AT 10000 FT MSL. THEN, WITH BRIGHT BLUE SKY ABOVE, CLOUD TOPS ROSE TO ABOUT 11000 FT. TO SEE FURTHER AHEAD, I REQUESTED A CLB TO 12000 FT. DURING THIS CLB, I ENTERED THE CLOUDS AND, APPARENTLY, A STORM CELL. UPDRAFTS AND DOWNDRAFTS OF 4000-5000 FPM CAUSED ME TO CHANGE ALT AND DECLARE AN EMER. ATC HELPED BY VECTORING ME TO MFD WHERE I LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. MY RULE FOR FLYING IF ISOLATED OR SCATTERED TSTMS EXIST IS TO ALWAYS REMAIN VISUAL TO STEER WELL CLR. IN THIS CASE, I BROKE THE RULE FOR ABOUT 1 MIN AND GOT CLOBBERED. THE SIT WAS DECEPTIVE WITH BLUE SKY ABOVE MY POS (NOTHING ABOVE 11000 FT VISIBLE). JUST BEYOND WHAT I COULD SEE WAS SOMETHING MUCH LARGER. CLBING UP TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING WAS AN OK STRATEGY, BUT IT SHOULD HAVE COMMENCED EARLIER.

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.