IMC in VFR flight as flying rancher flies into snow storm.

Attributes
ACN	263601
Time
Date	199402
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pir
State Reference	SD
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lyh
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-18/19 Super Cub
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff cruise other landing other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 2500 flight time type : 2400
ASRS Report	263601
Person 2
Affiliation	government other
Function	observation : observer
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I flew to my ranch from the pierre municipal airport. The ranch is about 20 mi south of pierre. When I left the ranch to return to pierre, the visibility was good. However, as I approached the missouri river it became hazy. I thought that conditions would improve after I crossed the river and that the airport would be VFR. Instead, I flew into a snow squall and the visibility decreased markedly. I circled 2 or 3 times to see if I could return to the ranch but the river breaks had become obscure. Because of heavy snow cover in the fields between the river and highway 34, I decided to land on highway 34. I landed east of pierre on highway 34 and pulled the plane into a greenhouse parking lot. The greenhouse is closed during the winter. An fbi agent observed my landing and gave me a ride to the airport. The following morning I took my uncle to the site to watch for traffic as I took off for the airport. The only traffic I observed on both landing and takeoff was the car belonging to the fbi agent who assisted me. My airplane is a piper PA18, 90 horsepwr with inoperative radio.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: IMC IN VFR FLT AS FLYING RANCHER FLIES INTO SNOW STORM.

Narrative: I FLEW TO MY RANCH FROM THE PIERRE MUNICIPAL ARPT. THE RANCH IS ABOUT 20 MI S OF PIERRE. WHEN I LEFT THE RANCH TO RETURN TO PIERRE, THE VISIBILITY WAS GOOD. HOWEVER, AS I APCHED THE MISSOURI RIVER IT BECAME HAZY. I THOUGHT THAT CONDITIONS WOULD IMPROVE AFTER I CROSSED THE RIVER AND THAT THE ARPT WOULD BE VFR. INSTEAD, I FLEW INTO A SNOW SQUALL AND THE VISIBILITY DECREASED MARKEDLY. I CIRCLED 2 OR 3 TIMES TO SEE IF I COULD RETURN TO THE RANCH BUT THE RIVER BREAKS HAD BECOME OBSCURE. BECAUSE OF HVY SNOW COVER IN THE FIELDS BTWN THE RIVER AND HWY 34, I DECIDED TO LAND ON HWY 34. I LANDED E OF PIERRE ON HWY 34 AND PULLED THE PLANE INTO A GREENHOUSE PARKING LOT. THE GREENHOUSE IS CLOSED DURING THE WINTER. AN FBI AGENT OBSERVED MY LNDG AND GAVE ME A RIDE TO THE ARPT. THE FOLLOWING MORNING I TOOK MY UNCLE TO THE SITE TO WATCH FOR TFC AS I TOOK OFF FOR THE ARPT. THE ONLY TFC I OBSERVED ON BOTH LNDG AND TKOF WAS THE CAR BELONGING TO THE FBI AGENT WHO ASSISTED ME. MY AIRPLANE IS A PIPER PA18, 90 HORSEPWR WITH INOPERATIVE RADIO.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.