Flight Planning and Weather Briefing
The pilot obtained a weather briefing for a planned route from Moline, Illinois, to St. Louis, Missouri; Memphis, Texas; and New Orleans, Louisiana. During the briefing, the pilot was informed that visual flight rules (VFR) were not recommended in eastern Iowa, but St. Louis was VFR and forecast to have 1,000 to 2,000 feet broken to scattered ceilings throughout the morning. VFR was also not recommended in the Memphis area.
Departure and Encounter
The pilot departed from Galesburg, Illinois, and was vectored around St. Louis by air traffic control. West of Farmington, Missouri, the pilot encountered ceilings of 2,500 to 3,000 feet and decided to land at Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. While approximately 25 miles north of Walnut Ridge, the pilot encountered snow and low ceilings.
Precautionary Landing and Outcome
Unable to find suitable weather conditions, the pilot executed a precautionary landing in a field. During the landing, the aircraft nosed over. No injuries or fatalities were reported in the source.