Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10; Flight Crew Total 765; Flight Crew Type 650
Human-Machine Interface; Distraction; Physiological - Other
Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Weather
While performing a 180 degrees. Turn to my first waypoint after departure from BLM I experienced spatial disorientation at approximately 900 FT MSL. Moderate to severe turbulence made it difficult to regain control of the aircraft for about 40 seconds. This incident caused me a great deal of stress. BLM was below minimums so I could not return to the airport and I had the plane under control so I elected to continue the flight. I was cleared to 5;000 FT and traveling on V229 enroute to JFK when ATC directed me to climb to 6;000 FT. After acknowledging; I began the climb. Still unnerved by the loss of control and reliving what happened; I climbed past my assigned altitude and was called by ATC as I broke through 6;700 FT. I was then instructed to remain at 7;000 FT. The rest of the flight to UUU was completed without incident and no aircraft had to be diverted because of my mistake. Losing control so close to the ground shook me up. It affected my ability to fly the plane properly. I should have told ATC what happened and asked for delaying vectors until I regained my calm. I am going up with a CII this week for an IFR proficiency check.
A BE-36 pilot on an IFR flight experienced spatial disorientation at low altitude as a result of an encounter with moderate or greater turbulence during his climbout in IMC. Shortly after; still distressed from the encounter; he failed to level at his cleared altitude of 6;000. ATC alerted him and cleared him to level at and maintain 7;000 as he was climbing through 6;700.