M20P pilot flew into a thunderstorm while being vectored by hsv.

Attributes
ACN	476209
Time
Date	200006
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6500
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence Thunderstorm Windshear
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : hsv.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	M-20 J (201)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
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 : 34 flight time total : 2443 flight time type : 1360
ASRS Report	476209
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : turbulence inflight encounter other non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was on a flight from BFR to mei at XA30Z on jun/xa/00. I was being handled by huntsville approach in the cruise portion of flight. Approach vectored me east of course due to thunderstorms. I entered part of the thunderstorm. Ground speed went from 125 KTS to 186 KTS. Due to turbulence I couldn't hold altitude of 6000 ft. The airplane got up to 6500 ft before I was able to return to 6000 ft. I radioed approach for a block altitude of +500 ft. Approach didn't respond to my request. There was another airplane answering my call sign. I believe approach was calling my aircraft using the incorrect call sign. In the future, I will try to get a block altitude before I enter a turbulent area. It is unsafe to hold altitude with that kind of updraft. Sometimes you need to ride it out then correct after the updraft is over.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: M20P PLT FLEW INTO A TSTM WHILE BEING VECTORED BY HSV.

Narrative: I WAS ON A FLT FROM BFR TO MEI AT XA30Z ON JUN/XA/00. I WAS BEING HANDLED BY HUNTSVILLE APCH IN THE CRUISE PORTION OF FLT. APCH VECTORED ME E OF COURSE DUE TO TSTMS. I ENTERED PART OF THE TSTM. GND SPD WENT FROM 125 KTS TO 186 KTS. DUE TO TURB I COULDN'T HOLD ALT OF 6000 FT. THE AIRPLANE GOT UP TO 6500 FT BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO RETURN TO 6000 FT. I RADIOED APCH FOR A BLOCK ALT OF +500 FT. APCH DIDN'T RESPOND TO MY REQUEST. THERE WAS ANOTHER AIRPLANE ANSWERING MY CALL SIGN. I BELIEVE APCH WAS CALLING MY ACFT USING THE INCORRECT CALL SIGN. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL TRY TO GET A BLOCK ALT BEFORE I ENTER A TURBULENT AREA. IT IS UNSAFE TO HOLD ALT WITH THAT KIND OF UPDRAFT. SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO RIDE IT OUT THEN CORRECT AFTER THE UPDRAFT IS OVER.

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.