DEFUNIAK SPGS, FL, USA
N733AH
Cessna 172N
Prior to departure the pilot checked the weather on television. Upon arriving at his destination, he found the airport fogged in. He diverted to another airport and it was also fogged in. He returned to his departure airport and found it fogged in. He flew southeast from his departure airport and found a break in the fog. Because he was getting low on fuel, he elected to make a precautionary landing in a field. While landing, he landed downwind, and floated over his intended landing point. After touch down, the aircraft rolled into some brush and trees and was damaged.
On November 22, 1999, about 0730 central standard time, a Cessna 172N, N733AH, registered to an individual, collided with brush and trees while making a precautionary landing in a field near Defuniak Springs, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Geneva, Alabama, the same day, about 0700. The pilot stated that after reviewing the weather on the weather channel, he departed on a local flight with his wife to perform several touch-and-go landings at the Geneva Airport. His wife then got out of the aircraft and he departed for Elba, Alabama, where he intended to purchase fuel for the aircraft. Upon arriving over Elba, he found the airport fogged in. He then diverted to Enterprise, Alabama, and found that airport fogged in. He then decided to return to Geneva. Upon arriving over Geneva, he found that airport also fogged in. He then made contact with controllers at Cairns Army Airfield, after having relayed his problem, via another aircraft, to controllers at Columbus, Georgia. He flew southeast of Geneva and encountered a clear area. He was getting low on fuel and elected to make a precautionary landing in a field, and he informed the controllers of this. Upon landing, he landed downwind and the aircraft floated over the intended landing point. The aircraft then touched down and rolled into heavy brush and trees and came to rest. The aircraft's wings contacted trees during landing roll and received substantial damage.
Was the pilot's failure to obtain a proper weather briefing resulting in his encounter with fog, his having to make a precautionary landing in a field when the aircraft became low on fuel, and the on ground collision with trees during landing roll.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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