Primary finding
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot to obtain a preflight weather briefing and his failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll following a precautionary landing due to adverse weather encountered during the flight.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot did not obtain a formal weather briefing before departure but he did observe a computer screen that depicted weather radar that was 2 hours old at the time. The flight departed and en route encountered adverse weather. Unable to locate an airport the pilot elected to perform a precautionary landing on a road. During the landing roll with a crosswind from the left, the airplane veered off the left side of the road into a ditch. The airplane then collided with a fence and came to rest. There were three adults in the two-place airplane.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 28, 1996, about 1010 central daylight time, an Aeronca 11AC, N3905E, registered to a private individual, collided with terrain and a fence during a precautionary landing near Wedowee, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight originated about 1000 eastern from the Callaway Gardens-Harris County airport, in Pine Mountain, Georgia. The pilot stated that he did not obtain a formal weather briefing for the flight, he did; however, observe a computer screen that depicted weather radar that was 2 hours old. After departure, during cruise flight with adverse weather ahead and unable to locate an airport, he elected to land on a two-lane road. After touchdown with a crosswind from the left, the airplane veered off the left side of the road, went through a ditch, then collided with a fence. He further stated that the airplane is two-place and there were three adults on board. -