A non IFR rated PA22 tri-pace private pilot on a cross country flight attempts scud running and nearly hits high terrain as he attempts a diversion to the nearest airport at 7a6, al.

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Attributes
ACN	562910
Time
Date	200210
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
State Reference	AL
Altitude	msl single value : 1700
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : alb.tower
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Piper Single Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : enroute altitude change cruise : level descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 36 flight time total : 625 flight time type : 375
ASRS Report	562910
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc inflight encounter : weather non adherence : far other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : exited adverse environment flight crew : became reoriented other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While about 50 miles northeast of huntsville, al, in marginal VFR, the ceiling suddenly dropped, or I flew into an area of lower clouds. I did a 180 degree turn and got out of it. I hit the 'nearest airport' function on the GPS with a view to landing, since the area was filled with steep hills or low mountains. I headed for the airport, which I believe may have been stevenson (7a6). As I turned in the direction of the airport, 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 checked huntsville ASOS and knew there was ceiling at about 1700 ft AGL there, and flat land with no towers just to the northeast. I flew to that area and let down close to madison executive (mdq), breaking out at about 1700 ft and landing. Throughout, I had my transponder on so ATC could better provide separation from instrument traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 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.

Narrative: 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.

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.