Accident Details
The accident involved a private pilot who was not instrument rated. The pilot departed for a local personal flight. Approximately 45 minutes after departure, the pilot encountered reduced visibility and decided to perform an off-field landing on a road. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a snow bank and nosed over. The accident sequence caused substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.
Weather Information
The closest weather reporting station to the departure airport reported visibility of 3/4 miles with mist, few clouds at 400 feet above ground level (agl), and a broken cloud layer at 1,200 feet at the time of departure. At the time of the accident, the same station reported visibility of 1/4 mile in fog, a broken cloud layer at 200 feet, and overcast skies at 700 feet agl. The pilot did not obtain a weather briefing prior to departure.