Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Private
Confusion; Training / Qualification
Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft; Weather; Human Factors
I had just taken off [the] runway. Conditions were VFR; there was a chance of thunderstorms moving into the area; starting after 2000. This was going to be a short flight; and conditions were VFR; and we were going to just fly around. As I was climbing out; at Vy; I encountered some slight turbulence and my right wing came up; and attempted to put in right aileron; but the wing kept rising. I put in full right aileron and wing still kept rising; and we were losing altitude. With the right bank; we were now coming back across the crossing runway. Because I wasn't getting a response; had gained speed and were low; I decide to reduce power. At this time; my nose dropped; and I was able to get the wings level. I was able to maneuver the plane back toward the Runway; moving across the field at a low altitude and was climbing back up. I do not recall the lowest altitude I was at.At this point my [passenger] was extremely scared; and my only thought was to get the plane maneuvered back around for landing on [the] runway. In performing this maneuver; my altitude was much lower than it would be for flying an approach. I was flying as conservatively as I could; to calm my [passenger]; and assure I was doing my best to get the plane back to the runway and land the plane. My maneuver; was to gain a little more attitude; and then I performed a gradual/conservative 90/270 turn back to [the] runway; were I performed a normal landing (the plane responded to all flight control inputs.Honestly; I don't know why the plane responded (or didn't respond). Upon landing; all the flight controls move and responded correctly. In my best assessment there may have been some sort of wind shear; I can't explain it; and I really don't know what it was that caused the plane to fly the way it did. The one thing I know is that this was a scary event; and I did my best to recover the aircraft and avoid any obstacle; etc.Again; to the observer; I was a pilot flying the plane in an unsafe manner; but in reality; I did the best I could. I did as I was taught; fly the plane; trying to figure out how to get thing level and controlled; and then get it on the ground. All of my actions were to this end; even though I believe; I generally violated the flight rules.
GA pilot reported losing control of his aircraft in turbulence during climb after takeoff. Control was recovered at very low altitude over the departure airport and the aircraft maneuvered for a normal landing.