On April 26, 1999, at 1700 central daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N220NY, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a precautionary landing on a dirt road 2 miles east of Mayview, Missouri. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight had originated from the Marshall Memorial Municipal Airport, Marshall, Missouri approximately 1630 and was en route to the Sedalia Memorial Airport, Sedalia, Missouri. A weather report for the reporting station located at the destination airport, Sedalia Memorial Airport, at 1653, reported 5 statute miles visibility, mist, an overcast ceiling at 800 feet above ground level, and rapidly falling barometric pressure. The reporting station is located 37 nautical miles and 124-degrees magnetic from the accident site In a written statement, the pilot stated that he contacted flight service approximately 1200 and received a standard weather briefing. The pilot stated that the weather briefer informed him that the weather was not favorable for the intended route of flight. The non-instrument rated pilot encountered instrument meteorological conditions during the flight. After flying in these conditions for several minutes the pilot elected to descend out of the overcast and execute a precautionary landing. During this time the pilot was not in contact with air traffic control. During the precautionary landing, the airplane struck a barbed wire fence, light pole, and ditch embankment. A post accident investigation of the aircraft revealed damage to the left wing ribs, left wing spar, right wing tip, nose gear strut, and propeller.