Glider pilots pay a lot of attention to landings in rough and unusual
places. Especially racers and record chasers. Off field landings are not
necessarily 'emergencies' and in fact qualify as normal operations in many
cases. But they are always risky and often are just a half step away from
real emergencies if gets carried away with trying to stay up or make a goal.

Farmers fields are the main venue - agriculture makes cross country soaring
possible. You can learn so much about farming like, "why did the farmer
choose to make this field a pasture rather than plow it?" Or the classic,
"why is there only one cow?"

Roads are always tempting but are full of obstructions let alone traffic,
especially with 50' wings. "What is the key document needed to avoid making
a normal landing a 7 o'clock news emergency?"

Tree tops can be soft but the trip down is the challenge - whether the a/c
goes all the way down on impact or you need to climb down, or worse lowered
down with a rope around your waist (I have pics). "What causes the most
damage in a tree top landing?"

Anyway, sounds like Ag pilots and glider guider share a fascination with
figuring out, "what would I do if I had to put down here?" Fun stuff!

Seriously, one does have to make a very important decision during one of
these events... how hard do you want to work to save the aircraft?
Surviveability is almost always doable but airworthiness afterwards takes
some effort and often some risk.

wrote in message
ups.com...
Here I am with the big stick again. I can't recall anyone discussing
rough area landings or hostile terrain landings in a long time. For
example, forced to land (no matter the reason-you supply one) and you
are headed into a corn field, or a rice paddy, or trees, or perhaps
mountain slopes. Well lets take it to the swamps where you have both
trees and water? Hmmmm, how about on city streets?
Anyone ever paid much attention to the field surfaces as you drive
along? Or the wires that cross streets and highways? Or traffic flows
and bridge heights? These are all things that ag pilots look at almost
unconciously and deal with on a regular basis.
How about you? Sure it may never happen but statistics don't mean a
thing when you are tagged, IT!
With winter on us and snow on the ground, can you tell what is under
that white mantle? Can you tell how deep it is? Are you prepared to
stay warm until you can get out or until help arrives? What a bummer to
make a good landing on a frozen lake and then freeze to death because
you didn't have any warm gear with you. Like the two blondes who froze
to death at the drive in when they went to see "Closed For The Winter".
(sorry I couldn't help myself)
I won't bore you with the places where I have had to land, or when I
rescued people who had landed in nasty places. What I can do is share
some of the information I learned from it.
Now I'm gonna sit back and wait to see who is interested and wants to
participate in an exchange of knowledge and ideas.
Ol Shy & Bashful - The CFII with the big stirring stick