N6727E

On March 19, 1994, at 1300 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 175, N6727E, nosed over in an open field 17 miles southwest of Currie, Nevada, during a precautionary landing. The pilot/owner was conducting a visual flight rules personal flight to Elko, Nevada. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Page, Arizona, at 1000 hours.

The pilot obtained a preflight weather briefing at Page, Arizona. The pilot updated his weather briefing in flight by contacting the Ely Airport unicom, Ely, Nevada. The update briefing consisted of the terminal weather at the Ely Airport. The pilot's in-flight observations and destination terminal forecast were for visual meteorological conditions.

The pilot encountered adverse weather conditions over mountainous terrain between Ely and Elko, Nevada. The pilot reported 1/4 mile visibility, freezing temperatures, snow showers, and low ceilings obscured the mountain tops.

The pilot reversed course to return to Ely. The weather had deteriorated along the route to Ely. The adverse weather had closed in behind the pilot and the airplane's wings were starting to ice.

The pilot decided not to attempt flight through mountainous terrain during snow showers and reduced visibility and elected to land. The pilot selected a road as a landing strip.

Ice building up on the airframe forced the pilot to land in an open field short of the road. During the landing roll the airplane's nose gear collided with sage brush and collapsed. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted.