Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Speed All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Procedure; Weather
At cruise; FL380; we experienced severe turbulence and were unable to maintain airspeed or altitude. We requested a descent to FL360 and then FL340. During this descent the airspeed loss caused the stick shaker to momentarily activate. At the time the weather radar showed clear of all convective activity.Even though the radar showed us clear of convective activity; I could have been more vigilant for signs of turbulence and avoided them.
We encountered a patch of severe turbulence in an embedded storm. However very little was showing on the radar and there were no prior reports of anything more than moderate chop. Our speed slowly began dropping off; I increased power and requested a descent to FL360. We leveled off there but still could not maintain speed; I requested to descend again to FL340 and increased to takeoff power. At some point in the descent we got the stick shaker very briefly.
CRJ-700 flight crew reported a momentary stick shaker due to turbulence descending from FL360 to FL340.