Lnc 4 pilot experienced a WX encounter near mem.

Attributes
ACN	586444
Time
Date	200306
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : mem.tracon
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl single value : 11000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Weather Elements	Thunderstorm
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mem.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Experimental
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time total : 4800
ASRS Report	586444
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude inflight encounter : weather non adherence : clearance non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action flight crew : exited adverse environment
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Weather Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I had asked for various deviations to find a hole through a line of thunderstorms. I thought I could go direct cha when I saw some blue sky. I requested and was cleared direct. It was a sucker hole. The blue sky was higher than I could climb (above FL290). There were cells on both sides of us and one in front. I started to turn (manually) and requested the deviation. There was a pause. The controller said, 'standby. Have you already turned?' I said, 'yes, I'm circling here,' which I did to avoid conflict or going IMC. ATC said, 'say altitude.' I noticed I was 250 ft low due to the steep turn. As I pulled up, I said, 'one one thousand,' when there. Then I received vectors north of memphis. Then, direct mem, which was my original plan. I had WX radar onboard, but didn't believe it. I thought I could sneak through. I learned: 1) believe WX radar, 2) follow a sound plan, and don't cut cells too close.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LNC 4 PLT EXPERIENCED A WX ENCOUNTER NEAR MEM.

Narrative: I HAD ASKED FOR VARIOUS DEVS TO FIND A HOLE THROUGH A LINE OF TSTMS. I THOUGHT I COULD GO DIRECT CHA WHEN I SAW SOME BLUE SKY. I REQUESTED AND WAS CLRED DIRECT. IT WAS A SUCKER HOLE. THE BLUE SKY WAS HIGHER THAN I COULD CLB (ABOVE FL290). THERE WERE CELLS ON BOTH SIDES OF US AND ONE IN FRONT. I STARTED TO TURN (MANUALLY) AND REQUESTED THE DEV. THERE WAS A PAUSE. THE CTLR SAID, 'STANDBY. HAVE YOU ALREADY TURNED?' I SAID, 'YES, I'M CIRCLING HERE,' WHICH I DID TO AVOID CONFLICT OR GOING IMC. ATC SAID, 'SAY ALT.' I NOTICED I WAS 250 FT LOW DUE TO THE STEEP TURN. AS I PULLED UP, I SAID, 'ONE ONE THOUSAND,' WHEN THERE. THEN I RECEIVED VECTORS N OF MEMPHIS. THEN, DIRECT MEM, WHICH WAS MY ORIGINAL PLAN. I HAD WX RADAR ONBOARD, BUT DIDN'T BELIEVE IT. I THOUGHT I COULD SNEAK THROUGH. I LEARNED: 1) BELIEVE WX RADAR, 2) FOLLOW A SOUND PLAN, AND DON'T CUT CELLS TOO CLOSE.

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.