You are flying a corporate turboprop from Miami to Chicago under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). Your course takes you through a cold front with imbedded thunderstorms. ATC clears you to climb and maintain Flight Level (FL) 190. You encounter moderate to occasionally severe turbulence in strong updrafts and downdrafts along the front. You have slowed the aircraft to its turbulence penetration speed to avoid overstressing the airframe when you encounter the strongest updraft yet just as you are approaching your assigned altitude. You are using all of your skill and knowledge trying to arrest your ascent without exceeding the aircraft's turbulence penetration speed, but the updraft carries you above your assigned altitude. Just then, the controller calls and instructs you to "say altitude." Glancing at the encoding altimeter, you see that you are at FL 200 and have just begun a gradual descent with the power levers retarded to flight idle. You cannot descend more rapidly without exceeding turbulence penetration speed and thereby risking structural failure if more turbulence is encountered.

a. What will you respond to ATC? Why?

b. If you were expecting to encounter turbulence or updrafts and downdrafts that might make altitude holding difficult while traversing this area of bad weather, what could you have done before reaching the area to give yourself more vertical maneuvering room?

c. As a result of the altitude deviation, what actions will you take after landing? Why?