Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 21000; Flight Crew Type 3000
Workload; Situational Awareness
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Diverted
Weather
Going IFR with long time student and friend; we began descending from 6;000 to 5;000 approaching BR beacon. It was a cold December day for SE USA. A cold Front (very dry) had passed about 10 hours before. It was dry cold allowing no signature cloud formation. First I noticed a very rapid descend (about 500 a minute) then very turbulent pressures trying to turn airplane upside down. Then with full power pitch up at 70 KTS -200 FT VSI! I struggled to climb while turning away from the mountains.I requested change of destination to an airport situated at a less rugged terrain environment. I moved southwest climbed to 6;000 FT. Now southeast [we were] trying to head towards the airport. I could hear others reporting 'Severe turbulence and not able to maintain altitude.' We were given 5;000 turn toward our destination but once I got to 5;600 FT again we were exposed to turbulence and rapid loss of altitude and upset attitude. I again requested a retreat to a heading 200 degrees away from the mountains. Tower ATC was quick; accommodating and very polite. I never deviated [in] altitude or heading but I wanted to share this for others to be aware of what happens in winter after a very dry cold front passage. I requested to go to another divert airport. We were given 180 degrees; then direct. We landed without any problems. I borrowed the courtesy car and drove my friend to our original destination.
A C-172 encountered a period of severe turbulence along an Eastern U.S. mountain range near his destination following passage of a dry cold front. Struggling to control the aircraft; the pilot diverted to calmer air for landing.