NTSB Factual Report

On May 20, 2001, at 1800 mountain daylight time, a Garrett Starduster Too SA300, N555CW, sustained substantial damage during a precautionary landing near Woodrow, Colorado. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions were deteriorating and no flight plan was filed for this personal cross-country flight from Saint Francis, Kansas, to Watkins, Colorado. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91and departed Saint Francis at 1715.

According to the pilot, she received a weather briefing from Columbus Radio (Columbus Flight Service Station) prior to departure and at that time was apprised of the winds, but precipitation was not mentioned. When in the vicinity of Woodrow, the visibility deteriorated rapidly due to snow, and ice began to form on the wind screen. The pilot said she chose to make a precautionary landing in a field due to icing and instrument conditions. The field was rough and uneven, and the aircraft nosed over which resulted in damage to the right upper wing, propeller, main landing gear, tail wheel, rudder, and longeron.

The pilot was not instrument rated, the aircraft was not instrument certified, and had no de-icing or anti-icing equipment installed.

NTSB Probable Cause

a precautionary landing on unsuitable terrain which was rough and uneven. Factors were deteriorating weather in the form of freezing rain, snow, and decreasing visibility.