Small aircraft at cruise hits unknown object.

Attributes
ACN	287423
Time
Date	199411
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rsg
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 220 flight time type : 60
ASRS Report	287423
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted none taken : unable
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Cruising at 2500 ft en route to del rio from san antonio, I was blown off course approximately 30 mi. Because of low ceilings I was unable to use radio navigation aids and was unaware for some time of my situation. During the confusion of returning to my desired course I had a collision with an unseen obstacle. In the future I probably will not attempt a trip of this nature without the ability of radio navigation. The low ceiling was the first factor against me, it prevented me from climbing high enough to utilize all available equipment. From that point the situation simply dominoed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA AT CRUISE HITS UNKNOWN OBJECT.

Narrative: CRUISING AT 2500 FT ENRTE TO DEL RIO FROM SAN ANTONIO, I WAS BLOWN OFF COURSE APPROX 30 MI. BECAUSE OF LOW CEILINGS I WAS UNABLE TO USE RADIO NAV AIDS AND WAS UNAWARE FOR SOME TIME OF MY SIT. DURING THE CONFUSION OF RETURNING TO MY DESIRED COURSE I HAD A COLLISION WITH AN UNSEEN OBSTACLE. IN THE FUTURE I PROBABLY WILL NOT ATTEMPT A TRIP OF THIS NATURE WITHOUT THE ABILITY OF RADIO NAV. THE LOW CEILING WAS THE FIRST FACTOR AGAINST ME, IT PREVENTED ME FROM CLBING HIGH ENOUGH TO UTILIZE ALL AVAILABLE EQUIP. FROM THAT POINT THE SIT SIMPLY DOMINOED.

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.