Flight and Navigation Deviation
The cross-country flight departed and made one fuel stop. While en route to a second fuel stop, the pilot deviated from the planned route because of mountainous terrain. The originally planned route had followed an interstate highway. After the deviation, the pilot believed he had rejoined his planned route, but he had actually begun following a different interstate highway.
Unplanned Route and Fuel Situation
The flight continued along the incorrect highway for 70 miles. When the pilot did not arrive at the next planned fuel stop, he decided to perform a precautionary landing due to low fuel.
Landing and Obstacle Strike
The pilot selected a dirt strip for the landing. During the landing roll, approximately three-quarters of the way down the airstrip, the right wing contacted a barbed wire fence. The pilot reported that when he identified the fence, it was too late to execute a go-around, and the dirt surface was too loose to stop the airplane before reaching the fence.