Incident Overview
A pilot flying a recently purchased aircraft from St. Louis, Missouri, to San Carlos, California, encountered unforecast weather conditions during the ferry flight. The pilot reported that while en route from Springfield to Tulsa, he decided to divert to Neosho or return to Springfield.
Flight Details
As the pilot began a left turn toward Neosho, he encountered rising terrain and reversed course to the right. During the turn, he saw a television tower and maneuvered to avoid it. However, the aircraft struck a guy wire associated with the tower, resulting in damage to the aircraft. Despite the damage, the aircraft continued flying.
Pilot Actions
After striking the guy wire, the pilot shut down the engine and performed an off-airport landing. The landing was completed without further damage to the aircraft.
Weather Conditions
The pilot estimated the weather at the time as having a 600-foot ceiling, one mile visibility, and wind from 240 degrees at 15 knots.
Aftermath
The aircraft sustained damage from the guy wire strike but continued to fly until the pilot intentionally shut down the engine and landed off-airport. No further damage occurred during the landing.