SMA DIVERTS DUE MINIMUMS; ENCOUNTERS HEADWINDS; OFF ARPT LNDGS.
Synopsis
SMA DIVERTS DUE MINIMUMS; ENCOUNTERS HEADWINDS; OFF ARPT LNDGS.
Narrative
I WAS FLYING VFR FROM SANTA FE; NM. - STOPPED IN CLOVIS; NEW MEXICO AND REFUELED AND REBRIEFED ON THE WX WHICH WAS TO BE MARGINAL VFR IN AUSTIN TX. BY XX:00 Z (1500 AND 3 UP AND DOWN). CONTINUED TOWARDS AUSTIN VFR OVER A SOLID OVCST BY BIG SPRINGS TEXAS. FILED IN THE AIR WITH SAN ANGELO APCH TO AUSTIN AND WAS CLRED VICTOR 76 TO AUSTIN. WHEN APCHING AUSTIN; I CONTINUED TO GET ADDITIONAL RPTS FROM WX WATCH - WX CONTINUED TO GO DOWN BUT WAS STILL ABOVE MINIMUMS. BY THE TIME I GOT TO AUSTIN; THE WX WAS ABOUT 300/3500. SHOT 3 ILS APCHS AND NEVER SAW THE RWY ENVIRONMENT. REQUESTED RETURN TO SAN ANGELO SOME 160 MI W - ENRTE TO SJT I ENCOUNTERED STIFF WIND (HEAD) AND REALIZED I PROBABLY WOULDN'T MAKE SJT. NOTIFIED HOUSTON I WAS LOW FUEL AND TOLD THEM I WOULD DO THE VOR APCH TO LLAW. SHOT THE APCH - BROKE OUT; BUT DIDN'T HAVE VISUAL ON THE FIELD. FEARING FUEL EXHAUSTION AND IN THE LOW- VISIBILITY ENVIRONMENT; I LANDED WITH PWR IN A RANCHER'S FIELD. IN RETROSPECT; I SHOULD HAVE RETURNED TO SJT (1400-20) WHEN I REALIZED THE WX WAS APCHING MINIMUMS IN AUSTIN. ALSO; I SHOULD HAVE DEPARTED AUSTIN AFTER THE 1ST APCH PROVED INEFFECTIVE.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.