Cessna 182 accident near Rensselaer, Indiana, September 30, 2016
On September 30, 2016 at about 11:50 pm local time, a 1966 Cessna 182, registered N2508Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Rensselaer, Indiana (Culp Farms Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper touchdown point during landing, which resulted in the left wing's subsequent impact with a cornfield.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 2016 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Rensselaer, Indiana · Culp Farms Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 K, built 1966 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N2508Q · no longer on the register · serial 18257708
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,904 hours in all; 2,400 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 2,904 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,117.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 9, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Culp Farms INC
The flight
- Departed from: 4IN8 Rensselaer IN
- Destination: 4IN8 Rensselaer IN
- Runway 9/27, 3,660 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 700 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from KRZL, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on November 15, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Statements | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Memo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.