Precautionary Landing in Muddy Field Leads to Nose Gear Collapse Following Icing Encounter (N21662)

On March 5, 1996, a Cessna 172 (registration N21662) was involved in an aviation accident near Valparaiso, IN. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's continued flight into adverse weather. Factors were the low ceilings, icing conditions, airframe ice, and the muddy field. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data API Editorial standards

A pilot encountered airframe icing during cruise, descended to 500 ft AGL, and performed a precautionary landing in a field. The nose gear sank into mud, collapsed, and the airplane nosed over.

Preflight and In-Flight Conditions

The pilot received a preflight weather briefing that indicated marginal VFR conditions and reported icing in clouds near the intended route of flight. During cruise, the pilot experienced precipitation and airframe icing.

Actions During Icing Event

In response to the icing, the pilot pulled the carburetor heat control to the on position and descended to approximately 500 feet above ground level (AGL) to maintain visual contact with the ground. Approximately 1/8 inch of ice had accumulated on the airplane. The pilot then reversed course in an attempt to locate an airport. The flight controls felt "sluggish" to the pilot.