NYC03LA076

The non-instrument rated pilot encountered snow showers in cruise flight at 4,500 feet msl. He attempted to divert to an airport, but could not locate it. The forward visibility continued to decrease, and the pilot performed a precautionary landing to a field. During the landing, the landing gear struck mud, and the airplane came to rest inverted. Prior to the flight, the pilot obtained a standard weather briefing from an FAA automated flight service station. The briefing did not include any forecasted snow showers for the area in which the pilot was flying.

On March 31, 2003, about 1345 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172P, Canadian registry C-GIKO, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing near Shenandoah, Virginia. The foreign certificated pilot and passenger were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR), Syracuse, New York; destined for Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO), Greensboro, North Carolina.

The non-instrument rated pilot reported that while in cruise flight at 4,500 feet msl, he encountered snow showers. The pilot attempted to divert to Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD), Shenandoah, Virginia; but could not locate the airport. The forward visibility continued to decrease, and the pilot performed a precautionary landing to a field. During the landing, the landing gear struck mud, and the airplane came to rest inverted.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed damage to the nose gear, propeller, both wings, and the vertical stabilizer.

SHD was located about 23 nautical miles southwest of the accident site. The reported weather at SHD at 1340 was: wind from 270 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 21 knots; visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet; temperature 43 degrees F, dew point 27 degrees F; altimeter 30.06 inches Hg. However, the pilot reported the visibility as "0" near the accident site.

Review of communications between the pilot and the Buffalo Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) revealed that the pilot telephoned the facility about 0925. The pilot filed a VFR flight plan from SYR to GSO, and requested a weather briefing.

The AFSS specialist provided a standard weather briefing, which included a forecast for showers during early afternoon in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area. However, the briefing did not include any forecasted snow showers for the Shenandoah, Virginia area.