The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight at 5,500 feet mean sea level (MSL) above a cloud layer, and the Cessna 120 was not equipped with an attitude indicator or flight instruments to operate in instrument meteorological conditions.
According to the pilot, the weather was forecast VFR at her destination. While en route, a cloud layer above her started lowering, so she descended to 5,000 feet MSL. She could see blue sky between the layers when the two layers started to come together and then she inadvertently entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
She transitioned to an “inside instrument scan,” turned on carburetor heat, and added full power to attempt to climb to find VFR conditions. After climbing 300 to 500 feet and about five minutes after entering the clouds, she noticed a right turn had developed as confirmed on the heading indicator and her electronic flight device. The right turn became tighter, and the pilot recognized she was disoriented, and the airplane was descending.
She elected to perform corrective action for a nose low unusual attitude and attempted to descend to visual flight conditions. The airplane broke out of the clouds about 1,500 feet above the ground (AGL) in a 25° to 30° right bank and 10° to 15° nose low attitude.
The pilot recovered to level flight and added full power. The airplane would not accelerate above 60 to 65 knots in level flight and the pilot felt the rudder was ineffective.
She elected to conduct a precautionary landing to field near Chatham, Illinois, that was muddy due to recent rains. During the landing, the airplane flipped over when the wheels dug into the ground.
The vertical stabilizer, rudder, and both wings sustained substantial damage.
The pilot reported that the airplane was operating normally prior to entering IMC conditions.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s decision to continue flight in instrument meteorological conditions in an airplane not equipped for instrument flight, which forced her to perform a precautionary landing to a muddy field resulting in the airplane nosing over.
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This May 2020 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Lucky. In a non- equipped aircraft flying above an undercoat and between layers, trying to clump to VFR on top is poor idea.
Descent to maintain ground contact before you’re IMC .
Lose of control and the graveyard spriral/spin is 98% the end.
A precationary landing might have saved the airplane. Lots of places to land around Chatum, IL.
RE…
“… The pilot recovered to level flight and added full power. The airplane would not accelerate above 60 to 65 knots in level flight and the pilot felt the rudder was ineffective….” >>>>WHY?<<<<
Icing seems like a logical cause for this obvious gross-under-performance… Although pending engine failure might also be reasonable.
Problem Is… there was NO clear reference to IMC temperature or 'mechanical issues'… so this aspect is baffling.