This incident recalls another incident that had a better outcome. A few years ago I was working on an annual with our mechanics during a violent thunderstorm. There was a torrential downpour, lots of lightning, and ground shaking thunder. In the middle of this we heard a plane fly over- we all looked at each other and ran to the windows- how could it be possible to be flying in this weather?
The engine sounds returned, and a new Bonanza taxied up. The pilot got out, smiling and chipper, and asked where she was. We told her, and she said she had gotten lost, and she hadn't come across the airport she was planning to put it down in a field.
She said she had her instrument and commercial ratings, so I asked why she didn't file IFR, or at least turn around when encountering IMC. No answer except she wanted to get to her destination. Not sure if she was even aware of the line of thunderstorms that spanned six states across her route. She said the plane had a GPS, but she didn't know how to use it.
She then went on to say she was a foot and ankle surgeon at a prominent university. I happen to know a fair number of the faculty at the named university, none of whom she knew. Turns out she was a podiatrist at a local hospital that had loose affiliations with the University practice, but she was not on the faculty.
Regardless, through the whole conversation it was obvious she was clearly completely oblivious to the whole sequence of events. No agitation, relief at surviving, etc. Completely normal in all regards.
After the storm passed we walked her to her plane, and found a big gash in the leading edge of one wing, at least six to eight inches deep. There was a tree branch with leaves still attached embedded in the gash.
We asked her if she knew she hit something, and she said maybe, but she was so low looking for a place to land that she really didnt pay attention.
She then proceeded to climb in, and we tried to stop her, explaining about potential damage to the spar, etc. She then covered the hole with duct tape, and again we pleaded with her to not go. She said she wanted to get where was going, smiled, and proceeded to take off back toward the same line of thunderstorms.
Never heard of any crashes later that day, but I will always recall the sinking feeling when first seeing her wing with the gash. I often wonder if she ever realized how close she came to dying that day.