Date: 201505
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: ZME.ARTCC, TN
Flight conditions: IMC
Weather elements / visibility: Rain; Windshear; Turbulence; 0
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga/6X
Operator: Personal
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Personal
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Airspace: Class E ZME
ATC / advisory: Center ZME
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Single Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Human factors: Other / Unknown
Anomaly: Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Weather
Primary problem: Ambiguous

Narrative: At the conclusion of my IFR flight and while cruising at 6000 feet I diverted to my planned alternate; MKL; due to rain at my primary. I was given a descent to 2500 feet and was approximately 15-20 minutes out. This put me in IMC so I lost the ability to see weather in front of me. ASOS at MKL reported a ceiling of 1900 overcast and I think wind of 3 knots at 190. I discussed this with Memphis Center and decided on the visual approach to Runway 20 at MKL. I rechecked the weather some minutes later and the new ASOS had a ceiling of 900 feet with light rain and calm wind. I called Memphis; and asked for the GPS 20 approach with GARTZ as an IAF. They responded with a climb to 3000; direct GARTZ; and cleared for the approach. About 2 min from GARTZ; Memphis called to tell me about moderate to severe rain ahead and I placed it at 2 miles past GARTZ. And then it began to rain with mild turbulence. At GARTZ; as I turned outbound the rain and turbulence became moderate to heavy. Continuing to track around to inbound the rain became very heavy and turbulence; with gusts and swirling; increased severely. As I was finishing the turn I hit an area of very heavy rain and severe turbulence with a very strong downdraft which led to a severe bank angle; nose down attitude and significant loss of altitude. I reduced power and leveled the wings; then increased to full power and full up but was continuing to descend. After coming out the bottom of the clouds the turbulence significantly decreased. The lowest altitude I saw was 1200 feet. Memphis had called several times and each time I answered back with no response. Troubleshooting; now that the airplane was stable; revealed my knee had pulled out the mic plug. After pushing it back in; I called Memphis to report our situation and they asked if I wanted to continue the approach. Because I was able to see in front of me now that I was below the clouds and saw no significant rain I answered affirmative. I climbed back to the appropriate altitude which I attained just prior to ZEALS and then followed the approach breaking out of the clouds at about 800 feet lined up with the runway. In summary; during a GPS approach I encountered severe turbulence; rain and downdrafts that were unknown to me. This resulted in an unusual attitude and loss of altitude resulting in busting altitude restrictions before I; thankfully; recovered. Additionally; an unplugged mic cord prevented me from contacting Memphis to answer their calls.In reviewing the radar plots; I would have never purposely flown into these conditions; especially at such a vulnerable time as during an approach. I have already scheduled time with my instrument instructor to discuss where I could/should have made different decisions and for further practice in unusual attitude recovery.




Synopsis: PA32 pilot reports encountering severe rain and turbulence during an RNAV 20 approach to MKL. Control of the aircraft is momentarily lost along with 1800 feet of altitude. At 1200 feet the reporter is able to regain control; climb to 2000 feet and complete the approach. Communication with ATC is lost when the mic cord becomes unplugged during the turbulence.