Narrative:

I filed 2 flight plans and checked WX; NOTAMS; wind. No altitude filed at this time as WX ok. During first fuel stop rechked WX radar showed rain at gtr. Gtr +3 mi -rw high overcast later that day thunderstorm in forecast. Rechk and departed dhn for ubs. Climbed sbound till 3000 ft than ATC gave northbound as filed. Talked to ATC and FSS en route WX gtr +3 mi 1000 ft scattered; 800 ft overcast en route added gtr as altitude. ATC advisory WX moving northeast at 30 KTS from 25 mi northeast of meridian 30 mi from ubs took WX deviation (in light rain light chop). Passing over ubs did not execute VOR approach as heavy rain and turbulence went to VOR and asked for ILS runway 18 at gtr ATC complied. During approach tower advised airport below minimums. Complied with missed approach in heavy rain and turbulence. I advised mgm new destination ATC gave me heading of 150 degrees because of traffic WX heavy rain and turbulence took vector south southeast. Later I rechanged destination to sem approximately 30 mi north of sem; heavy rain. So much that it poured into vents in aircraft heavy turbulence. Engine started sputtering several times (like it was running on 1 cylinder). I started descending from 4000 ft to maintain airspeed. Advised ATC and asked for nearest suitable airport. My GPS said AO8. ATC said same AO8. I proceeded direct; used squelch on radio; to listen as I got lower. Came out of clouds approximately 2500 ft; saw forest then gravel road. I landed on gravel road. No injuries; no damage. Aircraft had 7.2 gals of fuel remaining. Later I flew (after inspecting) to AO8.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT MAKES AN OFF FIELD LNDG.

Narrative: I FILED 2 FLT PLANS AND CHKED WX; NOTAMS; WIND. NO ALT FILED AT THIS TIME AS WX OK. DURING FIRST FUEL STOP RECHKED WX RADAR SHOWED RAIN AT GTR. GTR +3 MI -RW HIGH OVCST LATER THAT DAY TSTM IN FORECAST. RECHK AND DEPARTED DHN FOR UBS. CLBED SBOUND TILL 3000 FT THAN ATC GAVE NBOUND AS FILED. TALKED TO ATC AND FSS ENRTE WX GTR +3 MI 1000 FT SCATTERED; 800 FT OVCST ENRTE ADDED GTR AS ALT. ATC ADVISORY WX MOVING NE AT 30 KTS FROM 25 MI NE OF MERIDIAN 30 MI FROM UBS TOOK WX DEV (IN LIGHT RAIN LIGHT CHOP). PASSING OVER UBS DID NOT EXECUTE VOR APCH AS HVY RAIN AND TURB WENT TO VOR AND ASKED FOR ILS RWY 18 AT GTR ATC COMPLIED. DURING APCH TWR ADVISED ARPT BELOW MINIMUMS. COMPLIED WITH MISSED APCH IN HVY RAIN AND TURB. I ADVISED MGM NEW DEST ATC GAVE ME HDG OF 150 DEGS BECAUSE OF TFC WX HVY RAIN AND TURB TOOK VECTOR S SE. LATER I RECHANGED DEST TO SEM APPROX 30 MI N OF SEM; HVY RAIN. SO MUCH THAT IT POURED INTO VENTS IN ACFT HVY TURB. ENG STARTED SPUTTERING SEVERAL TIMES (LIKE IT WAS RUNNING ON 1 CYLINDER). I STARTED DSNDING FROM 4000 FT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPD. ADVISED ATC AND ASKED FOR NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT. MY GPS SAID AO8. ATC SAID SAME AO8. I PROCEEDED DIRECT; USED SQUELCH ON RADIO; TO LISTEN AS I GOT LOWER. CAME OUT OF CLOUDS APPROX 2500 FT; SAW FOREST THEN GRAVEL ROAD. I LANDED ON GRAVEL ROAD. NO INJURIES; NO DAMAGE. ACFT HAD 7.2 GALS OF FUEL REMAINING. LATER I FLEW (AFTER INSPECTING) TO AO8.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.