Cessna 172 accident near Rushville, Indiana, August 27, 2018
On August 27, 2018 at about 5:50 pm local time, a 1966 Cessna 172, registered N4379L, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Rushville, Indiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat in weather conditions conducive to carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 2018 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Rushville, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 G, built 1966 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N4379L · no longer on the register · serial 17254458
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot indicated that, during the cross-country flight, the engine "sputtered" several times then regained power. During the descent, it sputtered again and then lost power. The pilot reported she did not believe she was experiencing carburetor icing conditions during the cruise portion of the flight and did not remember what temperature the carburetor temperature gauge was displaying at the time. During the descent, the pilot attempted to troubleshoot the engine power loss without applying carburetor heat but was not successful in regaining engine power. During the forced landing, she attempted to maneuver the airplane between a power line pole and several trees. The airplane struck the power lines and impacted a field in a slightly nose-down attitude, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane had adequate fuel on board to complete the flight. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power settings. The loss of engine power likely occurred due to carburetor icing and the pilot's failure to apply carburetor heat in conditions conducive to carburetor icing.
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
- Other weather encounter during enroute
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during enroute
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Ice/rain protection system › Intake anti › ice, deice › Not used/operated
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 2,299 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O-300D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PMH Portsmouth OH at 3:45 pm
- Destination: CFJ Crawfordsville IN
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KGEZ, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on June 26, 2020. 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 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot and Passenger Statements | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Email | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Record of Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | NTSB Party Member Form | 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.