PA32-300, cherokee 6 pilot makes emergency landing on highway when WX closes in around him.

Attributes
ACN	337010
Time
Date	199605
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tph
State Reference	NV
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 22 flight time total : 314 flight time type : 5
ASRS Report	337010
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was flying my PA32-300 (cherokee 6) from cny to my home base, trk via salina, ut, thence to mlf and MVA. About halfway between mlf and MVA I encountered increasing turbulence and rapidly deteriorating visibility. I decided to change course to the nearest airport, tph. I radioed for conditions and was told tph was IFR (I am presently VFR only). My situation was that all quadrants were now IFR. I decided to put down where I was and made an off field landing 79 SM east of tph on us 6. I lnded safely and remained overnight in tph. I returned next day, took off and continued on to trk. Incidently, there is a closed field just west of where I put down that I am now told and saw is just 10 NM from my position that has a brand new 7000 ft runway belong to the air force. Had it shown on the chart as a real airport, I would not have been in the danger that I was. See las vegas sectional N38:20:00 W116:16. I was advised that VFR was not recommended for west nv and the sierra due to obscuration, turbulence, etc. However, my (very) limited experience with flight service is that they almost always say 'VFR not recommended.' I tried to push it. I got lucky, god smiled, kissed me and made it good.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA32-300, CHEROKEE 6 PLT MAKES EMER LNDG ON HWY WHEN WX CLOSES IN AROUND HIM.

Narrative: I WAS FLYING MY PA32-300 (CHEROKEE 6) FROM CNY TO MY HOME BASE, TRK VIA SALINA, UT, THENCE TO MLF AND MVA. ABOUT HALFWAY BTWN MLF AND MVA I ENCOUNTERED INCREASING TURB AND RAPIDLY DETERIORATING VISIBILITY. I DECIDED TO CHANGE COURSE TO THE NEAREST ARPT, TPH. I RADIOED FOR CONDITIONS AND WAS TOLD TPH WAS IFR (I AM PRESENTLY VFR ONLY). MY SIT WAS THAT ALL QUADRANTS WERE NOW IFR. I DECIDED TO PUT DOWN WHERE I WAS AND MADE AN OFF FIELD LNDG 79 SM E OF TPH ON US 6. I LNDED SAFELY AND REMAINED OVERNIGHT IN TPH. I RETURNED NEXT DAY, TOOK OFF AND CONTINUED ON TO TRK. INCIDENTLY, THERE IS A CLOSED FIELD JUST W OF WHERE I PUT DOWN THAT I AM NOW TOLD AND SAW IS JUST 10 NM FROM MY POS THAT HAS A BRAND NEW 7000 FT RWY BELONG TO THE AIR FORCE. HAD IT SHOWN ON THE CHART AS A REAL ARPT, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE DANGER THAT I WAS. SEE LAS VEGAS SECTIONAL N38:20:00 W116:16. I WAS ADVISED THAT VFR WAS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR W NV AND THE SIERRA DUE TO OBSCURATION, TURB, ETC. HOWEVER, MY (VERY) LIMITED EXPERIENCE WITH FLT SVC IS THAT THEY ALMOST ALWAYS SAY 'VFR NOT RECOMMENDED.' I TRIED TO PUSH IT. I GOT LUCKY, GOD SMILED, KISSED ME AND MADE IT GOOD.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.