Probable cause
The pilot's improper touchdown point during landing, which resulted in the left wing's subsequent impact with a cornfield.
NTSB analysis
The private rated pilot conducted a local pleasure flight and returned to a private grass airfield. He reported that he had poles located at the end of the runway, to help establish the runways' s center line and that there was a field of standing corn on the left side of the runway. He added that during the landing he was slightly left of the runway centerline and should have executed a go-around. The airplane's left wingtip impacted the corn and the airplane continued left into the corn, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and wings.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN16CA390 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 30, 2016
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Rensselaer, Indiana
- Nearest airport
- Culp Farms Airport (4IN8)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 182
- N-number
- N2508Q
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1966
- 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.