A NON IFR RATED PA22 TRI-PACE PVT PLT ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLT ATTEMPTS SCUD RUNNING AND NEARLY HITS HIGH TERRAIN AS HE ATTEMPTS A DIVERSION TO THE NEAREST ARPT AT 7A6; AL.

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WHILE ABOUT 50 MILES NE OF HUNTSVILLE; AL; IN MARGINAL VFR; THE CEILING SUDDENLY DROPPED; OR I FLEW INTO AN AREA OF LOWER CLOUDS. I DID A 180 DEG TURN AND GOT OUT OF IT. I HIT THE 'NEAREST ARPT' FUNCTION ON THE GPS WITH A VIEW TO LNDG; SINCE THE AREA WAS FILLED WITH STEEP HILLS OR LOW MOUNTAINS. I HEADED FOR THE ARPT; WHICH I BELIEVE MAY HAVE BEEN STEVENSON (7A6). AS I TURNED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ARPT; I FACED A STEEP HILL WITH THE CLOUDS ALMOST TOUCHING IT. I WENT OVER THE HILL AND INTO THE CLOUDS; AND REALIZED I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WOULD BE BELOW ME IF I DESCENDED. I TRIED IT ANYWAY AND BROKE OUT TO FIND MYSELF; FORTUNATELY; PARALLEL TO A WOODED RIDGE. I WAS GENUINELY AFRAID; AND DECIDED I WOULD NOT TRY TO DESCEND UNTIL I KNEW WHAT WAS BELOW ME. I HAD CHKED HUNTSVILLE ASOS AND KNEW THERE WAS CEILING AT ABOUT 1700 FT AGL THERE; AND FLAT LAND WITH NO TWRS JUST TO THE NE. I FLEW TO THAT AREA AND LET DOWN CLOSE TO MADISON EXECUTIVE (MDQ); BREAKING OUT AT ABOUT 1700 FT AND LNDG. THROUGHOUT; I HAD MY XPONDER ON SO ATC COULD BETTER PROVIDE SEPARATION FROM INSTRUMENT TFC.