NYC98LA038

The non-instrument rated pilot stated that he obtained a weather briefing from the Weather Channel and a DUAT service. The weather forecast called for marginal visual flight rules conditions. About 100 miles from his destination, the pilot encountered instrument meteorological conditions. He performed a precautionary landing to an uneven field. During the landing, the landing gears collapsed; and the propeller and left wing were damaged.

On December 9, 1997 about 1830 Eastern Standard Time, a Cessna TR182, N4701S, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing at Owenton, Kentucky. The certificated private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Hampton, Iowa; destined for Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot was not instrument rated. He stated:

"The day of the flight I obtained weather information from the Weather Channel and the Duat Service at the field of departure. The weather was to be MVFR. The trip was uneventful until about 100 miles from the destination. At this time I started noticing the ceiling lowering to below 2,000 ft msl and the development of patchy ground fog. After about another 40 miles I found an obscuring fog in my flight path. I turned northeast towards the nearest airport in that direction, but again hit the obscuring fog. I turned north and within a few miles the visibility reduced to a mile. I found the ceiling lowering to meet the ground fog. Cincinnati and Lexington ATIS [were] reporting 1/4 mile visibility and 400-600 foot ceilings. I turn[ed] west to find no improved visibility. I now had about an hour of fuel and darkness was coming on. I decided to proceed with a precautionary landing. I did not opt to go to a controlled field for that would mean flying into IMC at dusk with one hour of fuel and hoping I could be talked through an instrument landing with minimum previous training. I found a field near a lighted building, flew over it to look for obstructions, and then made a soft field approach opting to keep the gear down given I was landing on a ridge. I touched down at 50-60 kts and noticed the plane leaning left. Then the left gear main gear collapsed followed by the right main and nose gear. The plane abruptly stopped when the nose hit the ground..."

At an airport approximately 40 miles away, at 1906, the reported weather was: wind from 100 degrees at 8 knots; visibility 1 statute mile; light rain; mist; ceiling 200 feet overcast; temperature 38 degrees Fahrenheit; dewpoint 36 degrees; altimeter 29.79 inches Hg.