FlightFinder
Check my flight
No fatalities

Engine Roughness Leads to Forced Landing in Cornfield

Sugar Creek, OH, United States

On August 31, 2011, a CESSNA 175 was involved in an aviation accident near Sugar Creek, OH. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's delayed application of carburetor heat while operating in conditions conducive to carburetor icing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

The pilot reported engine roughness during cruise, attempted corrective actions, and performed a forced landing to a cornfield at night. Postaccident examination revealed a bent firewall but no mechanical anomalies. Weather conditions were conducive to carburetor icing.

Accident Details

The pilot reported that the airplane's engine began to run rough during level flight with about a 70 percent power setting. The pilot switched fuel tanks and applied carburetor heat, but the engine continued to run rough. Subsequently, the pilot initiated a forced landing to a cornfield during night light conditions.

Postaccident Examination

Postaccident examinations of the airplane revealed that the firewall was bent/buckled. No anomalies were found with regard to the airplane, engine, or systems during the postaccident examinations.

Weather Conditions

A weather report for the destination airport recorded the temperature and dew point as 18 degrees Celsius and 16 degrees Celsius respectively. According to a Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin entitled Carburetor Icing Prevention, the temperature and dew point were conducive to the formation of carburetor icing.

Contributing factors

Contributed to outcomePilot

Related events

Same aircraft family

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 31 Aug 2011 CESSNA 175 accident near Sugar Creek, OH?

The pilot reported engine roughness during cruise, attempted corrective actions, and performed a forced landing to a cornfield at night. Postaccident examination revealed a bent firewall but no mechanical anomalies. Weather conditions were conducive to carburetor icing.

Were there any fatalities in the 31 Aug 2011 CESSNA 175 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 31 Aug 2011 involved a CESSNA 175, at Sugar Creek, OH.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's delayed application of carburetor heat while operating in conditions conducive to carburetor icing.

More accident analyses