A C172 private pilot lands his aircraft in an open field when encountering heavy thunderstorm activi...

Attributes
ACN	555714
Time
Date	200208
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : emi.vortac
State Reference	MO
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Weather Elements	Turbulence Rain Thunderstorm
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 1300 flight time type : 425
ASRS Report	555714
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed as precaution other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Weather

Narrative:

On aug/sat/02, I flew my C172 from W18 suburban airport, laurel, md, to zerbin airport (zer), pottsville, PA. Flight was uneventful. For my return flight, I took off at XA00 and prior to flight, I checked WX at FBO computer. There were forecasted possible thunderstorms at the area of my destination (washington -baltimore). Return flight up to baltimore area was in clear VFR conditions. Approximately 5-10 mins to W18 in front of my flight there were lines of severe thunderstorms with heavy rain, lightning, etc. I decided to turn north and dialed westminster VOR (117.9) and took 120 degree radial to VOR. In 5 mi distance from westminster airport, I was again suddenly in heavy rain, strong turbulence and with no visibility of destination airport. I decided for an immediate precautionary landing on open field under me. My landing was successful with no damage to aircraft and to me. There was no crop on chosen field. Conclusions: 1) never fly into unknown severe WX conditions, especially in the area of possible thunderstorms. 2) in extremely dangerous WX situation, save aircraft and yourself and make safety landing as soon as possible. Do not look for 'better' conditions -- it can be too late.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 PVT PLT LANDS HIS ACFT IN AN OPEN FIELD WHEN ENCOUNTERING HVY TSTM ACTIVITY 5 NM E OF EMI, MD.

Narrative: ON AUG/SAT/02, I FLEW MY C172 FROM W18 SUBURBAN ARPT, LAUREL, MD, TO ZERBIN ARPT (ZER), POTTSVILLE, PA. FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. FOR MY RETURN FLT, I TOOK OFF AT XA00 AND PRIOR TO FLT, I CHKED WX AT FBO COMPUTER. THERE WERE FORECASTED POSSIBLE TSTMS AT THE AREA OF MY DEST (WASHINGTON -BALTIMORE). RETURN FLT UP TO BALTIMORE AREA WAS IN CLR VFR CONDITIONS. APPROX 5-10 MINS TO W18 IN FRONT OF MY FLT THERE WERE LINES OF SEVERE TSTMS WITH HVY RAIN, LIGHTNING, ETC. I DECIDED TO TURN N AND DIALED WESTMINSTER VOR (117.9) AND TOOK 120 DEG RADIAL TO VOR. IN 5 MI DISTANCE FROM WESTMINSTER ARPT, I WAS AGAIN SUDDENLY IN HVY RAIN, STRONG TURB AND WITH NO VISIBILITY OF DEST ARPT. I DECIDED FOR AN IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY LNDG ON OPEN FIELD UNDER ME. MY LNDG WAS SUCCESSFUL WITH NO DAMAGE TO ACFT AND TO ME. THERE WAS NO CROP ON CHOSEN FIELD. CONCLUSIONS: 1) NEVER FLY INTO UNKNOWN SEVERE WX CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF POSSIBLE TSTMS. 2) IN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WX SIT, SAVE ACFT AND YOURSELF AND MAKE SAFETY LNDG ASAP. DO NOT LOOK FOR 'BETTER' CONDITIONS -- IT CAN BE TOO LATE.

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.

A C172 private pilot lands his aircraft in an open field when encountering heavy thunderstorm activity 5 NM east of EMI, md.