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M20 pilot describes using weather data link during preflight and enroute to successfully avoid thunderstorms in the owens valley of california.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 959434 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201107 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | WJF.Airport |
| State Reference | CA |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | M-20 K (231) / Encore |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Route In Use | Direct |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 45 Flight Crew Total 5000 Flight Crew Type 4600 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence |
Narrative:
Departing mammoth lakes; on VFR flight plan to southern california; downlink weather (wxworx on garmin GPS 696) indicated possible thunderstorm weather developing over the owens valley southbound. FSS agreed and also cautioned about thunderstorms developing over the angeles crest mountains. Garmin datalink weather showed cloud cover existed over angeles crest but no lightning. When leaving the owens valley a half hour later and nearing wjf; thunderstorms were now showing on the 696 over angeles crest as predicted; and my intended route direct krauz intersection was unwise IFR also seemed unwise. Backup plan was to land at wjf; but garmin GPS 696 weather towards gorman showed thunderstorm free; and I proceeded to vny to pick up a VFR ATC route to sli. I consider the downlink weather information a great addition to flight safety in situations like this one. There were rain storms in the owens valley later that day.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: M20 pilot describes using weather data link during preflight and enroute to successfully avoid thunderstorms in the Owens Valley of California.
Narrative: Departing Mammoth Lakes; on VFR flight plan to Southern California; downlink weather (WxWorx on Garmin GPS 696) indicated possible thunderstorm weather developing over the Owens Valley southbound. FSS agreed and also cautioned about thunderstorms developing over the Angeles Crest Mountains. Garmin datalink weather showed cloud cover existed over Angeles Crest but no lightning. When leaving the Owens Valley a half hour later and nearing WJF; thunderstorms were now showing on the 696 over Angeles Crest as predicted; and my intended route direct KRAUZ Intersection was unwise IFR also seemed unwise. Backup plan was to land at WJF; but Garmin GPS 696 weather towards Gorman showed thunderstorm free; and I proceeded to VNY to pick up a VFR ATC route to SLI. I consider the downlink weather information a great addition to flight safety in situations like this one. There were rain storms in the Owens Valley later that day.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.