Incident Overview
A flight originating from Albuquerque, New Mexico, with an ultimate destination in California and a planned fuel stop in Bullhead City, Arizona, encountered clouds and rain showers in the west central area of Arizona. The pilot decided to reverse course and head toward Sedona, Arizona, as a diversionary airport. While en route to Sedona, the flight encountered additional weather that obscured the surrounding mountain tops. The pilot then chose to land on a dirt road near Chino Valley, Arizona, to wait for the fast-moving weather conditions to pass.
Takeoff Attempt
After the storm had passed, the pilot attempted a takeoff from the dirt road. During the takeoff ground roll, the pilot experienced difficulty maintaining directional control on the slippery mud road surface. As a result, the nose landing gear struck a group of rocks.
Outcome
The incident resulted in damage to the nose landing gear. No other details regarding injuries, occupants, or further damage were provided in the source.
Probable Cause
The source does not state a probable cause for this incident.