Probable cause
The pilot's loss of directional control due to an encounter with soft terrain while landing.
NTSB analysis
During landing, the airplane's landing gear contacted soft terrain and the airplane veered to the left. Despite the pilot's attempts to correct for the sudden change in direction, the airplane continued into an adjacent corn field and nosed over. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing was bent aft and twisted. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN10CA576 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 28, 2010
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Belle Plaine, Minnesota
- Nearest airport
- Pvt (PVT)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 172M
- N-number
- N9659Q
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.