Cessna 150
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 22; Flight Crew Total 130; Flight Crew Type 61
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Weather
On Date; I decided to go on a flight practicing my commercial license maneuvers. I went in the morning to try to beat a cold front that was coming over the mountains from the west. There was a cloud layer at 9000 ft. and about 15000 ft. that were both relatively stable and allowing for easy VFR flight around the ZZZ1 area. While practicing approximately 10 to the west-northwest of ZZZ1; I started encountering an impressive downdraft that required full power and a pitch attitude to Vx to maintain altitude. I flew east; further from the mountains; and got in some stable air when I noticed my ground speed heading north and south were drastically different. I was being blown north and couldn't keep the maneuvers within a certain area. I started having sudden altitude changes and was subject to the wind's power.I pointed my nose [to] the south to head into the wind and maintain stable flight. This is when I started climbing at extreme rates and blew through 10000 ft. I attempted to lower my attitude and get back into a descent; which slowed my climb rate but didn't get me out of a climbing rate. I worked to maintain a level flight attitude and positive control while being lifted through 11;12;13 and reaching 14 thousand ft. Without oxygen or ADS-B at this altitude I was worried of the possibility of interfering with ATC operations and hypoxia.Once at 14000 ft.; the updrafts calmed and the extreme rate of climb slowed. This is when I decided to turn back to ZZZ1 and get down if I could. I turned back north and still experienced some lift factor; though not as bad. Once over the airport I was able to pull power and conduct a descent back down and land safely. However; knowing I violated Part 91.225 stuck with me and wondering if I caused ATC any grief; I decided to file this. I believe I was riding the front of the cold front that scooped me far beyond my aircraft's service ceiling; 10000 ft. I think this was caused by flight closer to the mountains with a strong front coming through. I learned the true power of frontal systems and know that trying to squeeze a flight right before they bring weather through the area may not be the ideal time to train - also; having the Stratux onboard for ADS-B Out capabilities in case of special situations like that. Glad to get down safe!
C-150 pilot temporarily lost control of the aircraft due to windshear while maneuvering in a mountainous area as a cold front was approaching. An updraft caused the aircraft to climb past its service ceiling. The pilot eventually regained control and returned to departure airport.